Zamalek put an end to their four-match winless run while Ahli drew for the third straight time. Ahmed Morsy reports on the domestic football league Zamalek claimed their first win under new coach Hossam Hassan in the Egyptian domestic league on Saturday after thrashing Misri 3-0 in Cairo Stadium. As a result, Zamalek, who have lost six games out of 13 this season, are now in 12th place with 15 points, three above the relegation zone. Right winger Hazem Emam hit the opener and his maiden senior team goal four minutes after the kick-off to give his invigorated side the early lead. Emam poked home after converting Shikabala's inch-perfect cross from the left wing. Five minutes later, Ahmed Gaafar wasted a golden opportunity to double the lead after penetrating Misri's area to go one-on-one with the keeper, but he made amends 10 minutes later when he scored on the rebound from point-blank range, after a fierce Mido shot was blocked by goalie George Owu. Midway through the first half, former Ahli wide man Ahmed Shedid was close to notching Misri's first goal, but his powerful shot was denied by the bar. Late in the first half, a fit-again Mido could have notched his second goal with Zamalek this season after connecting with Ahmed Ghanem's cross. But the former Tottenham Hotspur striker saw his headed effort go inches past the post. Misri tried vigorously to cancel out Zamalek's lead shortly after the interval, but to no avail. In fact, it was Mido was set up near the edge of the area by Shikabala, but his curling shot missed the target by centimetres. Gaafar completed a brace after converting a one-on-one chance, sliding past Owu with aplomb. Newly-appointed coach Hassan stressed that his players have to exert much effort to regain their form after suffering from recurring losses this season. "Patience is always the key to success," he told Nile Sports after the match. "We still have a lot of work to do in order to return to normal and vie for the league title with Ahli. "I promise that I will lead a turnaround in the club's fortunes." Hassan took charge of the Cairo club early this month, and under his management the whites lost 2-1 to Haras Al-Hedoud and played out a goalless draw with Ahli before beating Misri. Hassan heaped praise on striker Mido, although the towering striker wasted a host of clear-cut opportunities against Misri as well as Ahli. "He was restless on the pitch but has always been influential. He's not lucky enough though," he added. Elsewhere, defending champions Ahli failed to gain all three points after outplaying 10-man Ismaili during a 1-1 draw. Ahli are now four points clear on top of the league table, while fourth-placed Ismaili are on 23 points, trailing the leaders by six. Ahli had to do without a long list of their key players, missing magical playmaker Mohamed Abu Treika, dynamic midfielder Mohamed Barakat, Egypt skipper Ahmed Hassan, Moataz Eno, Angolan winger Gilberto and defender Ahmed El-Sayed. Ahli, who were previously held to two successive draws without their key players, were not boosted by the return of duo Emad Meteb and Liberian Francis Doe. The match witnessed an exciting start, with hosts Ismaili coming on with all guns blazing, looking to open the scoring in the early minutes. Former Ahli winger Ahmed Sedik broke the deadlock after 17 minutes when Ahli midfielder Abdullah Farouk was adjudged to have tackled Ahmed Ali in the area. Sedik converted the spot kick to put Ismaili ahead and set the game alight. Ahli were revitalised and sought to cancel out the coastal side's slender lead. Meteb was close to leveling the score but his drive was amazingly blocked by Essam El-Hadari, who also parried Mohamed Fadl's follow-up effort from point- blank range. The equaliser came on the stroke of half-time when Mustafa Shebeita restored parity with a precise shot from outside the area. After the break, Ahli tightened their grip on the game and piled up pressure up front, looking to take the lead. Ahli striker Doe replaced off-form striker Fadl to intensify the visitors' attacks. The Cairo giants increased their domination after Ismaili defender Motasem Salem was sent off for two bookable offences either side of the interval. Ahli hoped to capitalise on their opponents' numerical disadvantage and carved out a number of chances but at the same time Ismaili became dangerous on the counterattack. Ahli assistant coach Alaa Maihoub believes that his side's 1- 1 draw with Ismaili will cause the title race to hot up. "Both teams were praiseworthy," Maihoub told the post- match press conference. "Ahli were aiming to win and that's why we deployed two strikers in Meteb and Fadl. "The road to the title is still long, and now we need to win all our upcoming games to stay on top of the league."
