With nine games left in the season, Ahli have stretched their league soccer lead to eight points. Ahmed Morsy reports Eight Egyptian national league matches took place on Monday in the 21st week of the league but the main event was definitely Ismaili hosting Zamalek in a crunch top-four clash. After enjoying second place, but for exactly one week, Zamalek dropped again to third in the league table after their tame goalless draw with Ismaili in the Egyptian football league. The draw in Ismailia put an end to Zamalek's superb eight-match winning streak. Zamalek dropped to third after the stalemate, on 37 points, while Ismaili were left in fourth with as many points but lag on goal difference. Petrojet took sole possession of second place on 38 points, eight points behind league leaders Ahli who have 46 points. Hosts Ismaili had the advantage in terms of ball possession but couldn't translate their dominance into goals in a dull first half. They kept searching for an opener through crosses from both flanks that mainly found Zamalek's defenders. Three minutes past the hour mark, Shikabala came close to putting Zamalek ahead when his curling free kick went inches past the post. After the interval, the match's tempo notched up a bit after both teams increased their attacks. In the 54th minute, Zamalek winger Alaa Ali spurned a clear- cut opportunity. The youngster went one-on-one with keeper Mohamed Sobhi thanks to an Ismaili defensive lapse, but his shot went high. Shikabala could have broken the deadlock on the hour mark when he tried to volley home from a long pass but mishit his shot. The last 10 minutes of the game were eventful, with both sides exerting huge efforts to snatch a late winner. "I'm satisfied with the players' performance despite the draw," Zamalek head coach Hossam Hassan said after the match. "Some of the players were out of form, however, it's normal," the former Egyptian skipper added. Asked whether Zamalek still had hopes of challenging for the league title, Hassan's reply was that the title race "is still alive until the last match. So our hopes are still alive." Ismaili assistant coach Mohamed Gaber shared the same sentiments. "Our chances in the competition are still open despite the draw," said Gaber. "We are not satisfied with any draw. Nevertheless, we were up against a team who had won eight straight matches. So, the overall score was acceptable." Elsewhere, Ahli striker Mohamed Fadl scored twice to give his side a 2-1 win over Assiout Petroleum on the same day in Assiout. Ahli were better throughout the first half as they dominated possession, forcing the home side to defend from the edge of the box. Fadl squandered the first chance in the 21st minute after his weak shot from close range was converted into a corner kick by keeper Nasser Farouk. In the 40th minute, Fadl broke the deadlock when he connected well with a cross from Ahmed Shoukri from the left, powering a header in the back of the net. But four minutes later, Assiout Petroleum grabbed a surprise equaliser when Nana Eshun capitalised on a dreadful mistake from Ahli defender Ahmed El-Sayed and goalie Sherif Ekrami. Both Ahli players were too lethargic to clear a long ball inside the area, allowing the Ghanaian forward to nip in between and send the ball home with one touch. Just before the break, Emad Meteb found the net with a smart strike after Ahmed Fathi's shot was deflected by the defence. The referee adjudged Meteb offside, however, television replays proved that the international striker was covered by a Petroleum defender. Ahli head coach Hossam El-Badri made his first substitution during the break, with Mohamed Abu Treika coming on for right back Ahmed Ali. The substitution paid off almost instantly when the title holders restored the lead after just six minutes from the restart. In the 51st minute, Abu Treika swung the ball into the area as both Meteb and keeper Farouk missed it. The ball fell into the path of the unmarked Fadl, who tapped in calmly. "The bad pitch and the hot weather affected our performance badly but the three points were our priority," said Alaa Maihoub, Ahli assistant coach, said. "We had bad luck in the first half and fielding Abu Treika in the second half was the reason for the change in the score." In other matches, Petrojet edged Spinning Mehalla 1-0 in Suez while in Mansoura Haras Al-Hedoud beat the hosts 2-1. Misri fought to a 2-2 home draw with Al-Gaish and Enppi claimed a 1-0 win over Police Union. El-Gouna were defeated by Ittihad 2-0 in Alexandria and the Arab Contractors drew 0-0 with Military Production.
