CAIRO: Ittihad El Shorta downed Zamalek at home Tuesday evening by a final score of 2-1. The hosts were looking to stay undefeated on the season but a solid all around effort from El Shorta saw the visitors deservedly take the full three points. Bob Bradley, head coach of the national team, was in attendance for the match observing players before he finalizes his list for the match against Brazil on November 14. Zamalek went on top early in the match after Amr Zaki was pushed down from behind in the box. The foul was dubious as Zaki appeared to go down quite easily. Nevertheless a penalty was awarded and Ahmed Hassan stepped up and put the ball in the back of the net. Zamalek were looking in control after the 7th minute penalty but El Shorta never backed down. The match was paused briefly when Zamalek fans managed to get into the stadium and set off fireworks and flares. There were soon escorted out by security forces. The star of last game Shikabala had a chance to double the lead in the 22nd minute. He was played in with a nice through ball and chipped over the keeper but the ball just could not drop into goal and it bounced off the crossbar. Besides a couple chances Zamalek did not play well in the first half. They spent a large part of the first half absorbing the attacks of El Shorta with the visitors producing a couple chances. The half finished 1-0 to Zamalek. Early in the second half El Shorta got on the score sheet. A pretty cross was played into the area from the right flank and Salah Ashour snapped his header down into goal and left no chance for Zamalek keeper Abdelwahed El-Sayed. Ashour was in perfect position between two Zamalek defenders and his 49th minute goal tied the game up. A little under ten minutes later El Shorta got the better of the White Castle again. In the 57th Shorta midfielder Moruf Yusuf broke in on goal and did well to shield off a defender as he charged in. From the center of goal he hit a low left footed shot that left the keeper off balance and without anything to do. With the Nigerian's goal the visitors were up 2-1. Zamalek could not put anything together the whole half and after Shorta took the lead they could not muster much of a response. Zaki looked like he might produce something but there was little connection in the final third. Shikabala did not create any of his magic that Zamalek benefitted from last game. The game finished with a victory for El Shorta and left a lot of questions for Zamalek who could not put anything together. Zamalek now sit four points behind rivals Al Ahly. There will be an international break coming until the league resumes again. BM
