Zamalek scored a goal in each half to beat arch-rivals Ahli 2-0 in the Cairo derby on Monday night to end a three year winless streak against the Red Devils. Tamer Abdul-Hamid opened the score in the 41st minute and Gamal Hamza secured the win with a well-placed header in the 62nd minute. Zamalek began brightly and had the better of the chances in the first-half. Wael Al-Qabani had the first opportunity on goal when he released a curling free-kick that was palmed away by keeper Amir Abdul-Hamid in the 10th minute. Three minutes later Hamza connected with Tarek Al-Sayed corner but Ahli's Ahmed Shedid cleared the ball from the goal line. Just before the hour , Mohamed Aboul Ella crossed the ball to Abdul-Halim Ali but his header was denied by the in-form Abdul-Hamid. The Whites were better and dominating the game in terms of chances and possession. It was a matter of time before they opened the score. In the 42nd minute, Ahmed Al-Sayed made a terrible mistake as he missed the pass that went to the terrific Mahmoud Abdul-Razeq 'Shikabala'. Shikabala sidestepped a deft low cross to Abdul-Hamid who connected with an ice-cool finish at the far post. Ahli's only chance came through captain Ahmed Belal who stole the ball from Zamalek's sweeper Al-Qabani and crossed it to Anis Boujelbene but the latter blasted it wide.
The second-half resumed as the first ended. The Whites had a golden chance to kill off the match as the referee whistled a penalty for Wissem El Abdi after Wael Gomaa fouled him in the area, but Qabani's effort was denied by Ahli goalie Abdul-Hamid. It was a turning point as the Reds pressed forward in order to get the equalizer. But against the run of play, unmarked Hamza doubled the lead, connecting with a fine cross from Aboul Ella who easily muscled past the below-par Al-Sayed in the right flank. Hossam Al-Badri made some changes to give his team more attacking options as Ahmed Galal, Ahmed Sedik and Abdul Hamid Hassan replaced Belal, Boujelbene and Osama Hosni. The team responded and went close on a couple of accasions. In the 70th minute, Sedik rounded Mohamed Abdul-Monsef and fired towards goal but Amr Al-Safti cleared the ball from the goal line. Five minutes later, Galal could have pulled one back but he failed to convert Sedik's low cross past Zamalek's goalie. On the other hand Henri Michel gave some action to Amr Zaki and captain Hazem Emam who replaced Ali and Hamza respectively, but both didn't have a notable contribution as the team got back in defense and seemed satisfied with their tally.
