Zamalek's out-of-favor striker Sherif Ashraf came on as a second-half substitute to hit a winner and give the White Knights a vital 1-0 win at Gouna in the Egyptian Premier League on Friday. The former Ahli youngster got his name on the score sheet in the 76th minute, to help Zamalek claim all three points. The Cairo side have secured provisional second place with 40 points, six behind their arch-rivals and league leaders Ahli. Relegation-threatened Gouna, who were tipped to be a revelation after securing their first top-flight promotion, lie 14th with 21 points. Control Visitors Zamalek were in control in the early minutes of the first half and created few scoring chances. The first opportunity fell to Alaa Ali when he tried to beat his marker in the air and head a Shikabala inch-perfect cross, but his close-range effort missed the target by inches. Gouna replied on 17 minutes when Ahmed Omran tried his luck from outside the area to see his low shot easily saved by goalie Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed. Zamalek could have been awarded a penalty kick when Amr Issa handled the ball on the edge of the area, the referee signaled for a free kick though. Shikabala stepped up to convert it but his tame drive hit the wall. The coastal side redeemed themselves and had the lion's share of the possession midway through the first period. Omran came close to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark with a fierce volley that was denied by the post.
Hamza Gamal Hamza, who was playing against his former club Zamalek for the first time, whipped in a diagonal cross. The ball bounced off the ground before it was found by the unlucky Omran yards away from goal. The White Knights kept struggling for fluency till halftime while the hosts were clearly superior. Shikabala Taken Off Zamalek boss Hossam Hassan surprisingly introduced Sabri Rahil instead of flamboyant playmaker Shikabala right after the break. Mohamed Abdul-Shafi switched to a schemer but wasn't as influential as Shikabala. Hamza, who joined Gouna till the end of the term and signed for Ahli starting next season, combined with Omran once again but the latter failed to break the deadlock. The in-form Hamza eluded Zamalek defenders before sending a deft through, but Omran couldn't slide the ball past Abdul-Wahed who produced a host of magnificent saves in the game. Ahmed Gafaar squandered a chance to put Zamalek in front when he headed a Hussein Yasser cross high over, seconds before the young striker made way for hero Ashraf. The restless Yasser won a free kick from a nice spot shortly afterwards but substitute Rahil failed to make the utmost of it. Hamza, whose name was repeatedly chanted by Gouna's spectators, was taken off in the 68th minute. Abdul-Moneim Ahmed was sent in instead but barely delivered the goods. Substitute Ashraf repaid coach Hassan's faith and scored the winner after latching onto an Ibrahim Salah defense-splitting pass near the penalty spot to dink home unmarked.
