Substitute Gamal Hamza converted a late penalty to lead Zamalek to a precious 1-0 home victory over Arab Contractors in the Egyptian League on Wednesday. The 26-year-old notched the winner 11 minutes from time after his shirt was tugged by a Contractors defender. The victory put Zamalek in fourth spot of the league table with 20 points, five adrift of leaders Petrojet, who have a game in hand. Mahmoud Abdul-Razeq 'Shikabala' had the first chance for Zamalek after six minutes when his powerful shot from inside the area narrowly missed the target. Alaa Kamal could have stunned the home crowd midway through the first-half when he was picked out by a cut-back from the right. His right-footed shot went just wide of the post, to the relief of Zamalek keeper Mohamed Abdul-Monsef. Shikabala was unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 32nd minute when he curled a brilliant free-kick that cannoned off the post. Effective substitutions Zamalek mounted much pressure in the second-half, thanks to a double substitution by Dutch coach Ruud Krol.
Veteran winger Tarek Al-Sayed was introduced instead of the ineffective Khaled Saad and talented forward Hamza replaced Abdul-Halim Ali. Both men were pivotal in reviving Zamalek's attacking options. Despite Kamal's free-kick that was denied by the bar early in the second period, Zamalek had the upper hand afterwards and created several dangerous opportunities. In the 66th minute, Hamza capitalized on a goal-mouth scramble and gathered the loose ball but his weak shot was easily handled by Contractors keeper. Three minutes later, youngster Sherif Ashraf terribly squandered a golden opportunity. He was released clear on goal by Shikabala's neat pass behind the defenders but he mis-hit his shot as Zamalek were denied the opener. Shortly afterwards, Ashraf's curling low shot went inches wide. Zamalek's frustrations in front of goal finally came to an end when Gamal sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot. After a neat exchange with Shikabala, Al-Sayed headed home but his goal was ruled out for offside. However, television replays proved that the linesman flag was incorrectly raised.
