Some poor defending denied Ismaili their first Egyptian Premier League victory following a 3-2 home defeat to ENPPI on Thursday. The Dervishes once again played with a 4-4-2 formation that featured central defenders Moatasem Salem and Abdul-Hamid Sami but neither produced an assuring display at the back. Their recurring blunders helped ENPPI, who fell behind to Ahmed Samir Farag's early penalty, secure a precious winner. Striker Ahmed Raouf leveled the score before the break and his striker partner, Ivorian Zeka Goore, notched a brace in the second half to give ENPPI their first league win under new coach Diaa Al-Sayed. Another penalty by Farag proved no more than a consolation for last season's runners-up Ismaili, who have just one point from two games after being held to a 2-2 draw by Mansoura in their league opener. ENPPI made up for their 3-1 opening defeat to Zamalek that led to the resignation of their former coach Anwar Salama. Sloppy Defending Ismaili played at their own stadium after it underwent renovations ahead of next month's FIFA U-20 World Cup on home soil. Their enthusiastic supporters were delighted to see their team go ahead after 10 minutes. A superb long ball from left winger Farag released forward Abdullah Saied, who raced clear but was brought down by ENPPI keeper Al-Mahdi Soliman as the referee pointed to the spot.
Raouf scored for ENPPI Soliman guessed right by diving low to his left but still failed to block Farag's spot kick. Some free-flowing football from the hosts entertained the crowd but it didn't last for long as ENPPI made the most of their opponents' sloppy defending to level the score on 31 minutes. In-form striker Raouf, who scored twice in ENPPI's Confederation Cup victory over AS Vita Club on Sunday, rose unmarked to head home a trademark cross from Ahmed Al-Muhammadi. Goore further stunned the home crowd ten minutes after the interval. He pounced on Sami's slip to jink into the area and round Ismaili's off-form keeper Essam Al-Hadari before slotting into an empty net. Woeful defending continued to cost Ismaili as Goore added the third for ENPPI four minutes past the hour mark. He skipped past Salem, who was his only challenger, on the edge of the area and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Ismaili coach Nebojsa Vuckovic introduced Tunisian striker Mohamed Selliti, who arrived in the close season, to increase his attacking options. Selliti made a fine impact and had a hand in Ismaili's second goal after being fouled by Soliman in the area. Farag stepped up once again to send Soliman the wrong way and narrow the gap but ENPPI held onto their lead to claim all three points.
