Egyptian Premier League leaders Ahli were handed their first defeat of the season, losing 2-0 at Ghazl Mahalla. Debut goals for Mahmoud Al-Attar 'Jackson' and ex-Ahli striker Ahmed Hassan Farag sealed a famous win for the Peasants, only their third at home. Ahli remain in charge of the table on 35 points, four above Ismaili. Mahalla get their 21st point to climb to ninth place. The league holders missed a number of key players through injury and suspension, most notably Mohamed Abou-Treika, Emad Meteb and Ahmed Hassan. The absence of full-backs Gilberto and Sayed Moawad also forced manager Hossam Al-Badri to start with the right-footed Abdullah Farouk on the left flank. Prior to the match, referee Fahim Omar was lambasted upon entering the pitch by the home fans, who didn't forget his three penalty-decisions against their side in a league defeat at Police in December. Hectic First Half Mahalla, who scored four goals in eight home games before this match, made a courageous start winning three corners inside the opening four minutes. In the eighth minute, referee Omar did not hesitate to award the Peasants a penalty, when Ahmed Ali recklessly obstructed Abdul-Hamid Shabana inside the area. Jackson made no mistake from the spot to give Mahalla an early lead.
Ahli responded with a header from Wael Gomaa that went inches wide of Ibrahim Farag's right-post, before the Mahalla keeper made a full-stretch save to deny Ahmed Fathi's freekick. Ahli controlled possession and the fit-again Mohamed Barakat was guilty of missing a clear-cut chance from six yards on the volley. The league leaders were reduced to ten men when Gomaa elbowed Shabana to see straight red five minutes from the break. On the stroke of half-time, Mahalla's Emad Osman followed Gomaa to the dugout after receiving a second yellow-card. Farag's Early Stunner Before the first minute had passed, the hosts found themselves two-nil up through Farag, who punished his former club with a debut goal. The striker, nicknamed Drogba, hit the empty with an easy tap-in from close range, following a superb volley against the post by the on-fire Shabana. Ahli tactician Al-Badri, missing the spine of his team, introduced Shehab Ahmed and Osama Hosni, but his attempts were to no avail. The Red Devils struggled against a resilient Mahalla defense, who was hardly troubled by their creativity-lacking opponents. Ahli's Liberian striker Francis Doe missed a sitter in stoppage time, sloppily hitting a point-blank effort into the keeper's hands.
