Zamalek moved up to second after claiming a narrow 1-0 home victory over Gaish for their eighth successive win to keep alive their hopes of competing for the Egyptian Premier League title. A second-half goal from central defender Mahmoud Fathallah helped Zamalek, who last won the league title in 2004, maintain their impressive results under coach Hossam Hassan. The Cairo side's fans chanted the name of Hassan, who has turned around their fortunes since his appointment in November last year, after the final whistle. Zamalek, who faced an unthinkable prospect of being relegated to the second division prior to the arrival of Hassan, are now seven points adrift of leaders and arch-rivals Ahli. They lie ahead of third-placed Ismaili, who crushed Ittihad 3-0 earlier on Thursday, on goal difference. Gaish, who hoped to break into the top four at the expense of Zamalek, remain sixth on 30 points. Useless Domination Zamalek dominated possession in the first half but could not find a way through Gaish's tight defense as attacking midfielders Shikabala, Hussein Yasser and Alaa Ali were kept at bay. It was the visitors, who overturned a two-goal deficit to hold Ahli to a 2-2 draw in their previous game, who went close to stunning the home crowd, thanks to some neatly-worked counter attacks.
Yasser was a constant menace to Gaish Speedy striker Ernest Papa Arko outpaced Fathallah to collect a long ball and go through after 19 minutes but his delicate chip struck the bar. Papa Arko, who combined well with strike partner Mikael Dogbe of Togo on several occasions, had another glorious opportunity just before the break but his free header narrowly missed the target. Dogbe and Papa Arko caused Zamalek's sluggish defense all sorts of problems in the first half but Gaish were outplayed in the second after running out of gas. The hot weather has apparently took its toll on Gaish, who neither stood firm in defense nor launched any dangerous counter attacks. Zamalek gained the upper hand after Egyptian-born Qatari winger Yasser escaped the attention of opposing defenders with some energetic and skilful moves. He had a goal correctly ruled out for offside in the 53rd minute and was unlucky not to find the net again, this time in a proper manner, when he rattled the bar with a fierce drive from a tight angle. Fathallah made amends in the 57th minute when keeper Mohamed Al-Shenawi misjudged a cross from the right to help the Egypt defender head into an empty net despite a late attempt by a Gaish defender to head it away. Shikabala almost made it 2-0 in the dying minutes but his low shot struck the post. Zamalek held on for a precious win that gives them hope to launch a late assault on the league title.
