Hossam Al-Badri admitted that Gaish deserved to get a point after holding Ahli to a 2-2 draw in the Egyptian Premier League on Saturday. The Red Devils assistant coach believes the result makes a lot of sense, given that the military side produced an impressive display and kept surprising Ahli's backline throughout the game. "We never tend to settle for draws, but no team can keep winning all the way" Al-Badri told the post-match press conference. "Ahli put in a below-par performance in the first half. We had no dominance at both flanks, which gave our opponents the chance to pile up pressure. "In the second half, We redeemed ourselves and the wingers became more effective, but we wasted so many opportunities." Mohamed Barakat was deployed as a right-winger in the second period, and head coach Manuel Jose introduced Saied Moawad as a left wide man instead of Gilberto to sort out the flanks problem. Clear-Cut Chance Al-Badri lamented Ahmed Samir Farag's wasted clear-cut chance, saying the latter could have scored a last-gasp winner.
Gaafar The striker connected with Ahmed Fathi's precise low cross, but his point-blank effort missed the target by inches. "We would have claimed all three points if Farag had converted that chance, but that's football," Al-Badri added. Having registered the draw, leaders Ahli went three points clear of Petrojet, who lie second with 30, while Gaish remained in 14th place with 16 points. Strategy On the other hand, Gaish coach Farouk Gaafar acclaimed his team for sticking to the plotted strategy, and voiced his satisfaction over the match's result. "What really mattered in the game was the tactical aspect. We had to mark all Ahli's key figures all the time," the former Zamalek ace stated. "Ahli were on the right track to register a victory, but their substitutions were not very wise. "We were strong opponents, and our frontline duo Ernest Papa Arko and Dodzi Dogbe were really spectacular. "Eventually, clinching one point is better than nothing."
