Ahli downed Asyut Petroleum 1-0 on Monday to go nine points clear at the top of the Egyptian Premier League as title challengers Ismaili lost to ENPPI with the same result. Hassan Mostafa scored Ahli's only goal in the 54th minute with a superb solo effort to give the title holders their 15th league triumph. Ahli manager Manuel Jose was forced to make his three substitutions as Mohamed Sedik, Abdul-Ellah Galal and Mohamed Abou-Treika left the pitch with different injuries. They were replaced by Mohamed Mahmoud, Ahmed Hassan and Osama Hosni respectively. Asyut could have broken the deadlock in the 16th minute when Ashour Al-Taqi was released in a one-on-one situation with Ahli keeper Essam Al-Hadari but he shot poorly wide. Shortly after, Emad Meteb, who wore Ahli's captaincy armband for the first time, darted down the right and crossed to Tarek Al-Saied whose shot was denied by the post.
Zamalek players celebrate Mostafa scored the winner nine minutes after re-start when he danced his way past the visitors' defenders before unleashing a high shot into the back of the net. League top scorer Flavio Amado almost doubled the lead five minutes later when he towered to Islam Al-Shater's cross but headed into the frame of the goal. Earlier on Monday, Hossam Mabrouk dinked into the roof of the net as ENPPI beat Ismaili 1-0 and gave Hany Ramzy the first victory in his managerial career. Ismaili's second defeat of the season left them in second place with 38 points, just two ahead of Zamalek. In Suez, Zamalek kept pressure on second-placed Ismaili when a last-gasp strike from Ghanaian midfielder Awuley Quay 'Junior' gave them a 2-1 victory over Petrojet. Abdul-Halim Ali fired Zamalek ahead as early as the fifth minute before a threaded shot from Alaa Ibrahim put the hosts level in the 20th minute.
