Clinching their ninth victory of the Egyptian league this season, Zamalek are back to winning ways, Ahmed Morsy reports Due to the Egyptian national team's participation in the World Cup qualifier against Zambia on Sunday, the league will take a break after finishing its 24th week of games. The last two encounters in the league witnessed the comeback of Zamalek. Their most recent victory was 2-1 against Olympic, moving them into sixth place in the league table on 33 points. Zamalek scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to come from behind and snatch the away win over Olympic in Alexandria on Friday. In the 10th minute, Said Mourad gave the hosts an early lead when he capitalised on some poor marking by Zamalek defender Amr El-Safti. Zamalek needed a piece of magic to break down Olympic's stubborn defence. They got it when eight minutes from time, Olympic defenders poorly cleared a corner and Sabri Rahil pounced to fire a stunning left-footed volley from the edge of the area that left goalie Mahmoud El-Sayed with no chance. It was Rahil's first goal since joining Zamalek in the January transfer window. Zamalek spectators erupted into ecstasy when substitute Shikabala put Zamalek ahead just one minute later. Hazem Emam latched onto a through ball and raced into the area but his shot was blocked by El-Sayed. Despite the desperate attempts of Olympic defenders to clear the danger, Shikabala slotted into an empty net to give Zamalek all three points. Because Zamalek were buoyed by their convincing 4-2 victory over Gaish the previous game, Zamalek fans were the ones who filled most of the 20,000-seat Alexandria Stadium, which will be closed for renovations as Egypt will host the U-20 World Cup in September. Zamalek coach Michel Decastel was full of praise for Shikabala after he scored the winner against Olympic. The talented winger, who came on as a second-half substitute, notched the decisive strike as Zamalek came from behind to snatch a precious win. "I attended tonight's post-match press conference to congratulate my players for that display," Decastel, who usually allows his assistant Sami El-Sheshini to field questions instead, said. "I also want to thank Shikabala for his efforts because his introduction was a turning point." Swiss tactician Decastel, who took over at the club in January, hailed the players' fighting spirit. "The players were not concerned by conceding a goal early in the game. They were determined to overturn the deficit and win the game," he added. Zamalek, who faced the unthinkable prospect of being relegated to the second division earlier this season, are gradually regaining their form after a barren run. Elsewhere, Mohamed Abu Treika scored his first goal after recovering from injury to help title holders Ahli claim a 2-1 home win over Ittihad on Thursday. Abu Treika made his first start since recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in Ahli's 2-2 draw with Petrojet last month. He needed just 11 minutes to open the scoring when Ittihad keeper El-Hani Suleiman failed to deal with his right-footed free-kick from the edge of the area. Mohamed Barakat extended Ahli's advantage five minutes later when he collected a through pass and raced into the area before delicately chipping Suleiman. However, Ittihad striker Mohamed Ragab reduced the arrears after capitalising on a rare blunder by in-form Palestinian keeper Ramzi Saleh. Saleh's mistimed jump did not allow him to handle a right-wing free-kick as Abdel-Hamid Hassan flicked the ball to Ragab, who headed home at the far post to take his tally to four league goals. Ahli, who seek to win a fifth consecutive title, lead second-placed Petrojet by five points. Ittihad, who are enjoying fine form under coach Taha Bisri, remain sixth in the 16-team table on 33 points. Ahli signed striker Chiajioke Abai who believes that joining Ahli will enhance his chances of earning a call-up to the Nigeria squad. The 21-year-old striker was officially unveiled as a new Ahli player on Thursday. Abai, who moved to Ahli as a free agent, put pen- to-paper on a four-year deal that will take effect after the end of the season. He is Ahli's second signing for the next season following the acquisition of Olympic defender Ateya El-Belkasi. In other matches, Petrojet condemned Police Union to a 2-0 loss on Friday to move up to second place in the Egyptian League table. Eric Bekoe fired the Petroleum side ahead on 39 minutes when set up by Hassan Gomaa's left- flank cross. Ahmed Shaaban added the second 19 minutes from time after picking up Mahmoud Abdel-Hakim's cleverly-threaded pass to feint past Police defenders and slot home. Mokhtar Mokhtar's side are now five points behind leaders Ahli, while Police remained eighth with 38 points. Elsewhere, Enppi defeated ninth-placed Misri 1-0 to advance to third place with 42 points. Ahmed Raouf scored the only goal of the game, his ninth overall this season, when he rose unmarked to nod in Ahmed El-Mohamedi's cross. In other developments, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced that the Cairo derby between Ahli and Zamalek has been postponed to 23 April. "The match was delayed due to Ahli's African commitments," Nayef Ezzat, head of the EFA competitions' committee, said. Ahli are scheduled to face Tanzania's Young Africans on 5 April in the second-leg of the Champions League round of 32. They were due to face arch- rivals Zamalek on the same day in the Egyptian League. The Cairo duo met four times this season in the Egyptian Super Cup, the Champions League and the Egyptian league. Ahli won three matches and drew once as Zamalek, who last defeated the six- time African champions in May 2007, failed to end their derby jinx.
