A new-look Zamalek side lived up to expectations in their first Egyptian Premier League test after claiming a deserved 3-1 victory over ENPPI on Friday. A trademark header by central defender Mahmoud Fathallah gave the Cairo giants a first-half lead. A superb Shikabala free-kick midway through the second period ensured ENPPI would have a mountain to climb to get something from the game The hosts, who were looking to ease their African woes after suffering two successive defeats in the Confederation Cup, pulled one back via a powerful Ahmed Al-Muhammadi drive with three minutes remaining. Substitute Ahmed Al-Merghani killed off ENPPI's hopes when he notched home deep into stoppage time to cap an impressive attacking display from Zamalek. New Faces Swiss coach Michel Decastel fielded three close-season arrivals in Zamalek's starting line-up – midfielder Hassan Mostafa, left-back Mohamed Abdul-Shafi and striker Ahmed Gaafar. Mido, who joined from Middlesbrough on a season-long loan, was left out of the game as he is yet to reach full fitness. Star striker Amr Zaki, who spent last season on loan at Wigan Athletic, partnered Gaafar upfront. Zamalek laid siege to ENPPI's area from the very beginning, thanks to some swift passing moves involving right-back Hazem Emam, playmaker Shikabala and Zaki. Shikabala almost opened the scoring after 18 minutes when he was released by a deft through pass from Zaki. He went one-on-one with ENPPI keeper Al-Mahdi Soliman but his delicate chip hit the side-netting.
Zamalek kept pushing forward and were awarded when Fathallah caught two defenders ball-watching to head home Shikabala's free-kick. Gaafar almost doubled the lead just before the break but he shot straight into Soliman's hands when it looked easy to score. Lively Shikabala Zamalek's regular keeper Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed was replaced during the interval, apparently because of injury, to make way for stand-in guardian Mohamed Abdul-Monsef. ENPPI posed little threat to the White Knights, who had to thank the lively Shikabala for orchestrating the majority of their attacks. The 23-year-old was unlucky to see a delightful curling shot strike the post on the hour mark. He made up for the wasted opportunity when another curling effort, this time from a free-kick, sailed over a disorganized wall and went into the top corner on 68 minutes. Egyptian international Al-Muhammadi gave ENPPI a glimmer of hope three minutes from time when his fierce long-range drive eluded the despairing hands of Abdul-Monsef. Zamalek still had the last word though. Soliman rushed out of his goal to block a certain goal from Zamalek's combative striker Sayed Mosaad, who came on as a second-half substitute. Al-Merghani reacted quickly to loop the ball into the net from 25 yards out.
