Ahli dropped two precious points in their title quest after drawing 2-2 with ENPPI in an edgy Egyptian Premier League contest on Monday. ENPPI saw their lead upended twice after goals from Mostafa Gaafar and Ahmed Al-Mohammadi were cancelled out by an own-goal from Abdullah Ragab and a penalty from Mohamed Abou-Treika respectively. Despite the draw, defending champions Ahli go top after leveling with second-placed Ismaili on 54 points, with three games remaining for both sides. ENPPI are fifth with 45. The match at Military Academy Stadium witnessed a series of pulsating events, including two expulsions to Ahli coach Manuel Jose and full-back Sayed Moawad. Early Blow Ahli, who missed suspended forward Flavio Amado, fielded Hani Al-Egeizi as a lone striker, while the fit-again Mohamed Barakat started on the bench. The Red Devils were dealt a blow early on when center-half Wael Gomaa appeared to have pulled a hamstring. Ahmed Fathi, who was surprisingly left out of the starting eleven, was called to replace the injured Gomaa at the heart of defense in the seventh minute. Ten minutes later, matters went worse for Ahli when Mohamed Samir's poor clearance allowed Ahmed Raouf to gather the ball and shoot from close range, but Ramzi Saleh saved it, only for Gaafar to notch home on the rebound. The African champions were lucky to get back on level terms two minutes later, after full-back Ragab headed Ahmed Hassan's threatening cross into his own net. However, Ragab's error was nothing compared to Saleh's 26th minute blunder, which allowed ENPPI to restore their lead. The Palestinian goalkeeper committed a rare gaffe when he made a mess of Al-Muhammadi's unremarkable long-range effort, which scraped into the net amid the shock of Ahli defenders.
Saleh in a rare blunder Two Red Cards Contrary to the first half, Ahli made a bright start after the break as Abou-Treika slotted home from the spot in the 47th minute, following a slight contact from Osama Ragab on the Egypt playmaker. Shortly after, Jose introduced talismanic midfielder Barakat at the expense of Al-Egeizi, but the lone striker's removal proved to be an unconvincing move by the Portuguese. The tense atmosphere began to escalate gradually, amid referee Medhat Abdul-Aziz's extensive cautions for both teams' players. Apart from a total of 12 yellow cards, Abdul-Aziz sent off Ahli boss Jose for protesting midway through the second half. Ahli then piled up the pressure in search for a breakthrough, which saw substitutes Barakat and Osama Hosni hit the side-netting with respective efforts. In injury time, the referee gave Moawad his marching orders for a second bookable offence, even though the Egypt full-back was involved in a fifty-fifty challenge with Al-Muhammadi. The hosts were close to snatch a dramatic victory in the dying moments of the game, but Ahmed Al-Sayed's header agonizingly bounced off the crossbar. Al-Sayed's chance was followed by a six-yard tussle for the ball, which eventually saw Ahli players screaming in a call for a penalty, courtesy of a handball by an ENPPI defender. After the match, referee Abdul-Aziz was escorted to the dressing room by stewards as Ahli players and staff were apparently furious with his performance. Watch the goals of the game
