The results of the penultimate week in the domestic football league postponed the announcement of this year's winner, reports Inas Mazhar Seven matches were held on Monday at the same time. It was the 29th week of the competition. One week to go before the end of the nine-month-long league. And still the champion is unknown and there is not a hint of who it might be. In Alexandria, Ahli's Flavio netted a perfect header 39 minutes into the first half to give his team a 1-0 lead and thanks to a tight defence, Ahli managed to hang on and raise their point total to 60. It was the first match for Ahli manager Manuel Jose after his announcement that he is leaving the club and taking on the post of head coach of the national team of Angola. And because of that, it was the first time the Haras Al-Hedoud Stadium in Al-Max in Alexandria had been sold out. A huge number of fans outside the stadium were unable to get in. Thousands of Ahli fans travelled from Cairo and elsewhere to greet Jose. It was an emotional moment in the stands as they greeted him and chanted his name and in return he kept saluting them. It was their way of saying thank you for all his achievements with the team in his six odd years with Ahli. And when the referee whistled the end, both Jose and Flavio pointed to the spectators, raising one finger, a sign that only one game remained for the trophy. Rumours say Flavio suggested Jose to Angolan officials. In Cairo and at the Military Stadium, Ismaili beat Egypt Telecom (Etisalat) 1-0 to level the score with Ahli at 60 points with one game remaining for both. It was an exciting game, one in which Ismaili had control from the beginning. Mohamed Mohsen Abou Greisha opened the score with a looping header in the box. This game saw security as tight as the Ahli- Hedoud game in Alexandria. More than 8,000 fans from Ismailia travelled in support of the team, joined by Zamalek fans who came to back Ismaili. Interestingly, the security outside prevented any red colour from entering the stadium: no red flags, red sticks, red drums. Nothing red. One lady, though, a supporter for Egypt Telecom, managed to sneak into the main tribune carrying something in red. Fans from Egypt Telecom were upset with the club's officials and gathered around them in their cars while they tried to enter. They had no tickets and wanted to attend the game claiming it was their right since the Military Stadium was their home ground in this match. When stadium officials refused to allow them in they blamed the officials for not distributing enough tickets to the company employees. Their numbers outside exceeded those already inside. Zamalek and Petroleum Assiout played to a scoreless draw in what could be described as a training session. With one point each, both teams secured remaining in the league. Zamalek have 39 points and 33 go to Petroleum Assiout. Though the match was held in Cairo, at the Arab Contractors Stadium, a low spectator turnout attended the match from Zamalek's part. The fans' justification was that they divided themselves between this match and the Ismaili and Egypt Telecom game. They were keen to support Ismaili more than their own team since Zamalek are out of the competition. Ismaili are their sole and remaining hope to stop arch-rivals Ahli. In other matches, Masri beat Mehalla 1-0 when Ibrahim El-Hilali score the match's only goal. Masri's three points raised their tally to 36. Mehalla remained at 30 points. A 2-1 victory for Al-Gaish over Olympic confirmed the relegation of the latter team from Alexandria to the second division with 23 points. Gaish have 30 points and are mid- way in the table. All goals were scored in the second half. Abdel-Satar scored after 65 minutes and Yassin Abdel-Aal followed ten minutes later. Mahmoud Al-Attar (Jackson) scored Olympic's only goal. At the Petro Sport Stadium, the Arab Contractors put an end to Enppi's winning streak with a 2- 2 draw to gain one point and raise their total to 34. Enppi also increased to 49. Ahmed El-Mohamedi and Adel Mustafa scored for Enppi while Ihab El-Masri scored twice for the Contractors. Petrojet and Tersana also drew 1-1. Petrojet now have 48 points while Tersana have 24 points. Police Union and Ittihad of Alexandria played to a scoreless draw. The point raised the Police Union to 37. For the first time in years, the national league champion will not been decided until the very end. For the past four years Ahli have the winners in dominating form, especially in the absence of any real threat from perennial challengers Zamalek. During the streak Ismaili did not yet pose a real threat and the military and petroleum companies had not yet made a strong impression. But now, the competition is heated and the defending champions are in real danger of losing the crown. Ismaili, the club dubbed the Brazil of Egypt, are giving Ahli a run for their money. Should Ahli be stopped in the league, it means they will have missed out on everything else this season -- the FA Cup and the African Champions League. The focus now is on the final week, the 30th week, which takes place on 20 and 21 May. Three matches will take place on Wednesday 20 May -- Ismaili will take on Tersana in what is described as an easy match while Ahli will face a tough Al-Gaish in the second match of the day. Both matches will take place at 7.00pm local time. The third match will feature Police Union and Zamalek at 9.15. The results of the Ismaili and Ahli games will determine the league champion. If one wins and the other loses or draws, the winner is the champion. But if both win or tie or lose, then a play-off will be held to determine the winner. Goal difference will not be taken into consideration. The play-off is set to take place on Sunday 24 May. On 21 May the remaining five matches will take place and will mainly determine the teams which will drop to the second division. Petroleum Assiout will take on Egypt Telecom, Mehalla meet Ittihad of Alexandria, Olympic take on Masri, Arab Contractors face Hedoud and Enppi play Petrojet. All matches are scheduled for 5.00pm. In case of a play-off match to determine relegating teams, it will take place on 25 May.
