Zamalek ended a six-game run without a win by beating ENPPI 1-0 in the Egyptian Premier League on Tuesday. Hani Saied scored the only goal of the game on 74 minutes to lift his team to eighth position in the table. Prior to the clash, Zamalek were twelfth in the table with 24 points, just four points ahead of the relegation zone. The win is Michel Decastel's first with the club, since the Swiss tactician took over Zamalek in January. In the absence of Shikabala and Gamal Hamza, who are both injured, Sherif Ashraf started the game alongside Abdul-Halim Ali in the Zamalek attack. Sweeper Saied was given a role in midfield as Amr Adel, Amr Al-Safti and Mahmoud Fathalla lead the White Knights' defence. Zamalek had the first chance of the game on 12 minutes when a long-range shot from Alaa Ali was turned around the post by Al-Mahdi Soliman. In the 24th minute, Sabri Rahil, who was given the nod to start for Zamalek at left-back, fired another powerful shot from outside the box that went inches over Soliman's bar.
ENPPI's first appearance came when Adel Mostafa's half-volley from the right was saved by Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed. Five minutes after the interval, an Alaa Ali pass was met by a curling shot from Abdul-Halim Ali but the striker was brilliantly denied by Soliman. Mid-way through the second half, Zamalek coach Michel Decastel tried to boost his team's attacking options by bringing on Mohamed Al-Morsi in place of Ashraf. A left-footed shot from Vincent Die Foneye caused havoc in the Zamalek area as Al-Sayed could only parry the Ivorian's effort. Al-Merghani did well to clear the rebound. On 69 minutes, ENPPI were reduced to ten men after skipper Ayman Saied received a second caution following a tackle on Al-Merghani. Zamalek finally scored the goal they were looking for when Alaa Ali's cross found its way to the unguarded Saied. The former Ismaili man brought down the ball and slotted a cool finish past Soliman. The result means that ENPPI once again fail to beat Zamalek, as the petroleum side never registered a win over the Decastel's men since their promotion to the Premier League in 2002. Anwar Salama's team remain third with 36 points, following Petrojet's home defeat at the hands of Masr earlier on Tuesday. Watch the game's goal
