Zamalek new coach Manuel Cajuda celebrated his Egyptian League debut with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Ittihad in Alexandria on Sunday. Abdul-Halim Ali opened the score line in the 15th minute and Gamal Hamza put Zamalek two up three minutes from the break. Substitute Mostafa Gaafar sealed the triumph deep into the injury time. After the victory, Zamalek moved up to second place on 29 points, four behind title holders Ahli who still have two matches in hand, including one against Zamalek themselves.
Ittihad stay fifth with 19 points with a poor record of five victories, five losses and four draws. International striker Ali put the visitors ahead when he hammered a finish into the roof of the net after being fed by Hamza. In the 42nd minute, Hamza ended a long scoring drought as he worked his way past two Ittihad defenders before curling a left-footer into the top corner of the net. Ittihad were denied a controversial goal late in the first-half when Zamalek defender Tamer Abdul-Wahab was awarded a free-kick just before striker Cherno Mansaray found the net. Gaafar, who came onto the pitch substituting Hamza, completed the rout in the 94th minute when he sidestepped Ittihad keeper Samir Ashour and slipped the ball into the empty net.
