The Egyptian football league kicked off a new season with title holders Ahli and runners-up Zamalek drawing separately, Ahmed Morsy reports The 2010-2011 Egyptian national soccer league season started last week with a couple of surprising results experienced by the teams that finished one-two last season. Last year's runners-up Zamalek were prevented by Haras Al-Hedoud from celebrating their first three points and their first league win over Hedoud in five games following a 2-2 draw on Thursday. And on Friday, defending champions Ahli were also held in their league opener, this time to a goalless draw by Police Union. In the 16th minute, Haras Al-Hedoud were awarded a penalty by Egyptian international Ahmed Eid after being fouled by Zamalek defender Ibrahim Salah in the area. Ahmed Hassan Mekki scored from the spot, giving his side the lead. Zamalek's forwards Amr Zaki and Shikabala tried valiantly in the remaining time of the first half to level the score but it was only five minute after restart did the tying goal come when Zamalek's new arrival Ivorian striker Abou Kone made his debut with an overhead kick that sailed past El-Hedoud keeper Ali Farag. In the 62nd minute, Zamalek took the lead when they were gifted a penalty after their winger Hussein Yasser was met by a lumbering tackle in the area by Al-Hedoud defender Abdel-Rahman Farouk. Zaki converted from the sport. Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan then pulled off Zaki, Shikabala and Yasser, a decision which badly affected his team's performance. In the dying minutes, Haras' Mohamed Hamed met a pinpoint cross with a first-time shot from the left flank to equalise for his side and put a dent in the title hopes of Zamalek who are aiming to win the league crown for the first time since 2004. After the game, Zamalek's football director Ibrahim Hassan claimed that individual mistakes allowed Al-Hedoud to draw. "We were the superior side throughout the game, however, we wasted too many goal-scoring opportunities," Hassan said. "Nevertheless, we need to put the result behind us immediately. There is a long way to go. This is just the beginning." Although Ahli, who are aiming to win a seventh consecutive league title, featured heavyweight stars Mohamed Abu Treika, Mohamed Barakat, Ahmed Hassan, Hossam Ghali and newly-signed Mohamed "Gedo" Nagi, they combined could not get past a stubborn Police Union. In the second half, Ahli coach Hossam El-Badri introduced newly-singed Lebanese striker Mohamed Ghaddar and the youngster playmaker Afrotto in a bid to increase his team's effectiveness but the substitutes made no noteworthy impact. In other games, newly-promoted Wadi Degla thrashed the Arab Contractors 4-1 in their maiden Egyptian league appearance. "It's a historic victory," Degla's Belgian coach Walter Meeuws told the post-match press conference. "The team earned Premier League promotion four years after the club was founded and today it scored four goals to claim a superb victory in its first top- flight game. "This form should encourage us to work harder in the coming period." Another newly-promoted team, Smouha, began their league campaign with a 1-0 loss to Military Production. As a result, former Egypt coach Mohsen Saleh resigned as Smouha manager. Just as quickly, the coastal club announced that Frenchman Patrice Neveu would replace Saleh. Elsewhere, Ismaili's new Nigerian striker Ndubuisi Godwin scored his first goal for Ismaili to give them a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Petrojet. Misri started in winning fashion with a 2-1 victory over Al-Gaish. Enppi celebrated their first three points at the expense of Al-Gouna after edging them 1-0. The league will resume on Saturday and Sunday with three matches each. Ahli and Ismaili games will be played on Thursday and Friday due to their CAF African Champions league matches. Ismaili are due to host Heartland FC of Nigeria on Saturday in the third round of the group stage while Ahli will clash away against Algerian JS Kabylie the day after.
