Ahli registered another 1-0 victory over Wadi Degla in the Egyptian Premier League on Sunday thanks to a Wael Gomaa winner. Egypt center-half Gomaa hit the sole goal of the game in the 48th minute to make sure his team secure their second win out of two to level on points with Harras Hodoud, who have a better goal difference. The Reds, who narrowly beat Ghazl Mahalla in the opener, could have claimed a more comprehensive win if it was not for Degla keeper Amir Tawfik. After costing his team the three points against Harras Hodoud with a horrendous error last week, Tawfik made no less than six saves to save Degla from a big defeat. Degla, who released 14 players to Belgian third-tier Turnhout and another five to Lierse during the one-year league suspension, had skipper Mohamed Al-Hosari sent off in the 89th minute of the game. Hamdi vs. Tawfik Ahli were in charge of a nearly one-sided first half, as Degla had keeper Tawfik to thank for keeping a clean sheet all through the first 45 minutes. It all started when full-back Ahmed Shedid saw a fourth minute strike blocked by Tawfik who thwarted another powerful strike from striker Al-Sayed Hamdi 20 minutes later. Tawfik, who came through Ahli's youth ranks, was called into action once again, denying Hamdi's shot at the near post, seconds before the latter failed to head the ensuing corner-kick home from point-blank range. But the Egypt striker continued posing threat when he unleashed a long-range strike following a fine Emad Meteb-layoff, three minutes before the former saw another attempt saved by Tawfik. As their frontline seemed unable to find the net, Ahli needed veteran defender in Gomaa to break the deadlock when his left-footed volley from inside the area earned his side the lead three minutes into the second half. The Reds could have widened the gap when a left-footed drive from the unlucky Hamdi was again saved by Tawfik who then did well to block Meteb's close range shot. The almost-untested Sherif Ekrami made a couple of vital saves near the end to spare Ahli from what could have been an embarrassing result. Degla captain Al-Hosari was dismissed one minute from the end of regular time for a second bookable offence.
