Mohamed Abou-Treika scored twice after his second-half introduction to help Ahli come from behind and beat ENPPI 2-1 in a tense Egyptian Premier League clash on Thursday. The inspirational playmaker started on the bench once again as he is still short of match fitness after recovering from a serious foot injury last month. Ahli fell behind to a goal from Osama Ragab 12 minutes after the restart but Abou-Treika, who replaced Ahmed Hassan at halftime, scored his first goal since October to level the score. It was a re-taken penalty that gifted Ahli the equalizer after Abou-Treika's initial effort was saved by ENPPI keeper Amer Mohamed but his apparent encroachment prompted the referee to replay it. The Egyptian international made no mistake on the second attempt before heading home with 10 minutes remaining to give the Red Devils a precious victory. Tempers flared at the end, with ENPPI skipper Amr Fahim engaging in a quarrel with several Ahli players. League leaders Ahli, who still have a game in hand, are six points ahead of second-placed and arch-rivals Zamalek as they chase a sixth consecutive title. ENPPI are 11th in the 16-team table with 28 points. Off-form Meteb Off-form striker Emad Meteb, who partnered Liberian Francis Doe up front, wasted two early chances for Ahli, who struggled without the presence of a natural playmaker in the first half. He latched onto a through pass from defensive midfielder Ahmed Fathi, who played on the left side of a four-man midfield, to go clear of defense but his tame shot was blocked by Mohamed. He was found unmarked by a neat cross few minutes later but his free header missed the target.
ENPPI then took control as Ahli duo Hossam Ashour and Ahmed Hassan, who played in the heart of the team's midfield, failed to accomplish their defensive duties. Egypt skipper Hassan looked out of sorts after recovering from a hamstring injury. ENPPI had a goal through striker Ahmed Abdul-Zaher wrongfully ruled out for offside in the 23rd minute. They were unlucky not to score six minutes later when Ahli's left-back Sayed Moawad, one of the Egyptian internationals who helped the Pharaohs win the Nations Cup in January but hardly played well since then, cleared a shot off the line. Treika Effect ENPPI's pressure paid off when a free kick found Ragab unmarked at the far post in the 57th minute to side-foot the ball home after capitalizing on keeper Ahmed Adel's hesitation to come out. Abou-Treika, although he is yet to rediscover his best form, made the difference afterwards with his killer instinct. Ahli were awarded a penalty in the 65th minute after Meteb was allegedly brought down when he was getting ready to connect with a free kick. Television replays were inconclusive. Keeper Amer came off his line before Abou-Treika took his initial penalty and the referee consequently ordered a replay. The second attempt was successful for the classy playmaker although Amer got a touch to his shot. Some defensive lapses could have helped ENPPI regain their lead, with their best opportunity falling to Ivorian striker Vincent Die Foneye who skied his shot high over with the goal gaping after escaping the attention of Ahli defenders. Abou-Treika handed Ahli all three points when he rose unmarked to head home a pinpoint cross from Fathi in the 80th minute.
