By winning the famed derby, Ahli continued their relentless drive towards the top of the football league, Ahmed Morsy reports With two games in hand, Ahli are one point away from leading the domestic league table again. The title holders clinched the derby's three points after beating arch-rivals Zamalek 1-0 in a rescheduled game at Cairo Stadium on Sunday. The game was postponed from the 10th week due to problems concerning broadcasting rights. Following the loss, Zamalek remained sixth in the league table with 21 points, while Ahli's win lifted them to second on 29 points, one point behind league leaders Petrojet. Ismaili are third on goal difference as they have the same points as Ahli. Both teams have only the domestic league campaign to look forward to after they were eliminated from the Egyptian Cup -- Zamalek from the round of 32 following their 1-0 defeat at the hands of third-division Beni Ebeid while Ahli were out of round 16 after going down 1-0 to Haras Al-Hedoud. Ahli's starting line-up for the Cairo derby did not include star striker Mohamed Abu Treika or defender Shadi Mohamed who sustained an injury during the warm-up. The Ahli skipper had to pull out of the game, making way for Ahmed Hassan who replaced Ahmed Fathi in midfield, who in turn moved to the heart of the defence. Ahli manager Manuel Jose opted to keep Egypt ace Abu Treika on the bench and started with Hassan, Moataz Eno and Mohamed Barakat in midfield while young defender Mohamed Samir replaced the suspended Wa'el Gomaa. Ahmed El-Merghani also started his first game against Ahli in the heart of the Zamalek midfield, with Brazilian Ricardo making a comeback on the left side. The goalless first half witnessed a number of attempts from both sides, as the two teams were keen to avoid conceding an early goal. Midway through the second half, Zamalek striker Gamal Hamza was replaced by midfielder Ayman Abdel-Aziz. Jose had other ideas, as he brought on Abu Treika and Anis Boujelbene in place of Hassan and Belal to enhance his team's attacking options. Nine minutes from time, Angolan striker Amado Flavio scored the only goal of the game when he brilliantly headed Gilberto's corner past Zamalek goalkeeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed for the precious three points. The six-time African champions easily hung on to their lead, successfully keeping possession for the remainder of the game. "We didn't score more goals because of the in-form goalkeeper El-Sayed," said Ahli assistant coach Hossam El-Badri. "El-Sayed had a great game and should be praised for his brilliant performance." El-Badri also praised Ahli midfielder Ahmed Fathi, describing him as a joker who can play in any position. "Fathi can play anywhere whether as a midfielder or a defender and we have complete trust in his abilities," stated El-Badri. Zamalek trainer Moemen Suleiman said four players from the team were not fully fit to play the whole game. "Ricardo wasn't fully fit, but we had to play him because Osama Hassan was also away for a while and couldn't start right away," Suleiman said after the game. Hamza, Ricardo, Hassan and Mohamed Aboul-Ella had all been suspended from the team's training sessions from between 9 November and 15 December as a disciplinary measure. "We agreed that Hamza will play as much as he can, then we'd replace him afterwards." Suleiman added that despite receiving a knock in the second half, El-Sayed was not substituted upon the keeper's own request to carry on. Security was tight in Cairo Stadium following the hooliganism witnessed in Ismailia after Ahli's 1-0 win at Ismaili in the Egyptian league "Every one of us was searched more than five times while entering the stadium," Mohamed Akl, an Ahli fan, said. "Flags, cigarettes, lighters and even red-ultras shirts were prohibited. I also saw somebody with a Palestinian flag who was also banned from entering the stadium until he got rid of it," Akl added. "I was exhausted after being searched for more than five times as if I had a bomb. I wonder how can a fan support his team without his flag, signs, food or even cigarettes and drinks. They made us like the seats we were sitting on. Akl said he hid his cigarettes and lighter under his clothes. Watching the derby was Zamalek's new coach Zamalek Michel Decastel. The Swiss tactician signed a one-and-half- year deal with Zamalek on Sunday in the presence of club president Mohamed Amer. Decastel, who was relieved from his position as Etoile du Sahel coach in October, previously worked in Africa with Esperance, Sfaxien, Wydad Casablanca and ASEC Mimosas. As a player, the 54-year-old represented Switzerland between 1974 and 1989, as he played for Neuchatel Xamax, Servette FC and RC Strasbourg in France. Zamalek had been looking for a new coach since the sacking of German Reiner Hollmann earlier in the season. Ahmed Refaat and trainer Ahmed Ramzi were acting as interim coaches over the last two months, including the encounter with Ahli.
