Zamalek ended their four-match winless run and registered an emphatic 3-0 home win over Masri, their first victory under the guidance of coach Hossam Hassan, in the Egyptian Premier League on Saturday. Right winger Hazem Emam hit the opener and his maiden senior-team goal shortly after the kickoff. Ahmed Gafaar also opened his Zamalek account when he doubled the lead on 19 minutes. Ten minutes from time, Gaafar scored his second goal to leave Masri with a mountain to climb. Now Zamalek are in 12th place with 15 points, three above the relegation zone. Hassan took charge at the Cairo club early this month, and under his management the White Knights lost 2-1 to Harras Hodoud and played out a goalless draw with Ahli, before beating Masri. Early Opener A refreshed Zamalek side were fired ahead only after four minutes, when Emam poked home a Shikabala inch-perfect cross from the left flank. Ahmed Gaafar wasted a golden chance five minutes later when he single handedly penetrated Zamalek's area to go one-on-one with the keeper, but he was eventually nutmegged. However, Gaafar made amends for squandering a chance ten minutes later when he scored on the rebound from point-blank range, after a Mido fierce shot was blocked by goalie George Owu.
Hassan Masri roared back to form midway through the first period, but couldn't reduce the arrears. Visitors' Ahmed Osman was felled in the penalty area by Zamalek defender Ahmed Ghanem, the referee didn't award him a spot kick though. Former Ahli wide man Ahmed Shedid was close to notching Masri's first goal, but his powerful shot was denied by the bar. Late in the first half, fit-again Mido was about to score his second goal with Zamalek this season after connecting with Ghanem's cross. The former Tottenham Hotspur hitman saw his headed effort go inches past the post. Eventless The majority of the second half was notably eventless. Masri kept exerting huge efforts to cancel out Zamalek's lead shortly after the interval, but to no avail. The Port Said side dominated the game for a short while but evidently lacked the necessary cutting-edge, unlike Zamalek who were more dangerous despite their minimal possession. Mido was set up near the edge of the area by Shikabala, but the former's curling shot missed the target by few centimeters. Gaafar completed a brace after converting a one-on-one chance, sliding past Owu with aplomb. The 24-year-old marksman spurned a couple of clear-cut opportunities afterwards, when Masri's enthusiasm was completely dampened.
