The future may not be so gloomy for Zamalek despite their repeated stumbles. Against arch-rivals Ahli, the White Knights showed there is plenty of room for improvement. Zamalek ended a run of four consecutive defeats in the Cairo derby after settling for a 2-2 draw with Ahli in the CAF Champions League. Zamalek fans hoped their team would secure a much-needed victory to strengthen their chances of reaching the semis. However, they would still be pleased with how Zamalek fared on Sunday night because the five-time African champions shrugged off some negative aspects of their game. Rare Comeback Zamalek rarely enjoyed a successful comeback over Ahli, especially in recent years when the latter were vastly superior. In those years, Zamalek never managed to turn the tables on their traditional rivals. In their thrilling 2007 Egyptian Cup final against Ahli, Zamalek led three times but once they fell behind, the Red Devils emerged winners with a 4-3 victory. In Sunday's Champions League clash, Ahli took the lead through Angolan striker Flavio Amado after just eight minutes. The majority of Ahli faithful thought that the early goal would kill off Zamalek hopes. They used to observe similar scenes for many years. Their thoughts were justified. 1988 marked the last year Zamalek were able to come from behind and have the lead over Ahli. Zamalek recalled the past memories when Gamal Hamza restored parity four minutes before the break and Ghanaian striker Junior Agogo put them ahead shortly after the restart. Although their lead didn't last until the match's end as Mohamed Abou-Treika leveled the score, Zamalek's resilience could encourage them to have a never-say-die attitude whenever they face Ahli. Efficient Strikers
Hamza scored against Ahli Zamalek's two goals against Ahli came from striking duo Agogo and Hamza. That seems quite a surprise for a team that dearly lacked the firepower needed to convert their goalscoring chances this season. In their first three Egyptian League games, Zamalek scored five goals – three by defenders, one own goal and a solitary strike from combative frontman Agogo. With Abdul-Halim Ali, Sherif Ashraf and Mostafa Gaafar failing to impress, Zamalek coach Reiner Hollmann intended to rely on Agogo and Hamza. But Zamalek missed the presence of the influential duo in several matches. Agogo struggled with injury while Hamza had a discipline problem after being involved in a scuffle with teammate Ricardo. But now both men are available and seem ready to rediscover Zamalek's scoring touch. Coping with Injuries Zamalek put in a fine display against Ahli despite missing a regular quartet. Skipper Ayman Abdul-Aziz, who impressed in the heart of Zamalek's midfield this season, was ruled out due to suspension. So was Tunisian defender Wissem El-Abdi. Talented midfielder Mohamed Ibrahim, whose versatility usually proves useful for Zamalek, also missed the match due to an injury. To rub salt into the wounds, sweeper Hani Saied couldn't take part in the match after sustaining an injury in the warm up. But the replacements Hollmann fielded rose to the occasion to produce a good performance at Cairo stadium. Zamalek's substitutes' bench barely benefited the team during the past few years.
