A Sherif Ashraf brace led Zamalek to an exciting 4-2 Egyptian Premier League victory over Gaish on Saturday as the White Knights registered their eighth win of the season. Ashraf put the hosts in front early in the match but Gaish striker Salah Amin notched the equalizer shortly after the restart. Former Ahli youth Ashraf restored Zamalek's advantage few minutes later and his strike partner Abdul-Halim Ali scored a rare goal three minutes past the hour mark to widen the gap. Amer Sabry converted a penalty to revive Gaish's hopes of securing a share of spoils but substitute Shikabala killed off their hopes when he scored Zamalek's fourth goal with nine minutes remaining. The win moved the Cairo giants, who have all but guaranteed their top-flight status after facing a relegation scare earlier in the season, to seventh place in the 16-team table with 30 points Gaish, who failed to build on their 4-1 mauling of Ittihad, slipped to ninth on 29 points. Firm Control Zamalek's full-backs got the better of Gaish defenders as the hosts were in firm control of the game during the first half. Ashraf gave them the lead after 11 minutes following some neat work from diminutive right-back Hazem Emam, who earned plaudits for his promising displays since being promoted to the first team. Emam skipped past a challenger down the right before providing a cross that eluded a Gaish defender and found Ashraf, whose weak shot from close range wrong-footed keeper Gharib Hafez.
Emam excelled down the right flank Zamalek maintained their domination in terms of possession afterwards but barely created goalscoring opportunities. Gaish managed to level the score two minutes after the restart, thanks to Amr Adel's sloppy marking. Central defender Adel, who also committed a dreadful error in Zamalek's 2-1 defeat to Harras Hodoud, allowed Amin to rise higher than him and head a right-wing cross past Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed. Sublime Ashraf, who rediscovered his form after a lengthy barren run, put Zamalek in front once again with a sublime 51st-minute free kick. He curled his shot over the wall and into the top corner of the net to take his tally to four goals this season. Veteran striker Ali, who last found the net in Zamalek's 3-1 victory over Police Union in December, scored his second goal of the season to extend the gap on 63 minutes. He was picked out unmarked by Emam's deft pass to fire a low shot from inside the area that went in off the post. Gaish pulled one back when Sabri, who came through Zamalek youth ranks, converted a penalty in the 73rd minute after keeper Al-Sayed tripped Dodzi Dogbe. Winger Shikabala, who was introduced instead of Ashraf, ensured Zamalek's victory in the 81st minute when he latched onto Alaa Ali's through pass to spring the offside trap and chip over Hafez. Watch the match's goals
