Wadi Degla take three from two with victory at ENPI
Wadi Degla moved to six points from two games after beating ENPI 3-1 in the Premier League's second round on Thursday. The away side took the lead through Seif Teka in the third minute, then doubled their advantage when Mahmoud Kahraba converted a penalty thirteen minutes in. ENPI had the ball more — 54 per cent of possession — but could only answer through the spot-kick before Wadi Degla pulled away late on.
The hosts pressed forward after the break and eventually found a way through, Ahmed Reda winning a penalty after a VAR review in the fifty-ninth minute. Hamza Hassan stepped up to convert in the sixty-second, but the visiters responded immediately — the same player who had been substituted for ENPI saw Hamza Hassan given his chance, and the game opened up from there.
Zizo added a third in the eighty-second minute to settle any remaining nerves, and ENPI's hopes of recovery were further dashed as the visitors saw out the remainder with three substitutions already made in the closing stages. Ahmed Refaat, Ragab El Safi and Seif Teka all picked up yellow cards during the contest, while ENPI made six changes to their starting lineup, including a triple substitution at the sixty-second minute.
The statistics tell a different story from the scoreline. ENPI created more big chances — two compared to one — and registered nine shots on target against six, yet their conversion rate was poor. They had 1.91 expected goals to Wadi Degla's 2.26, but the visitors were more clinical with their chances. Wadi Degla completed 165 passes to ENPI's 209, though the home side's 72 long passes showed a different approach to building attacks.
The result leaves ENPI bottom of the table with two defeats and no points from their opening two fixtures. Wadi Degla sit sixth after their first win, joining the 4-point mark they reached earlier this season. Both sides have played twice, and the gap between them — nine places in the standings — looks likely to widen if ENPI cannot find their rhythm.