Zamalek secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Gazl El-Mahalla in the fifth round of the Premier League on Wednesday evening. The result left the visitors four points clear of the relegation zone with four games played, while the hosts remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just a single point from their opening fixtures.
Ahmed Sherif stepped up to convert a penalty in the 88th minute, the only goal of a match where discipline proved difficult to maintain. Five yellow cards were issued to Gazl El-Mahalla players, including Hossam Ashraf, Rached Arfaoui, Mahmoud El Wensh, F. Nechat Djabri and Adam Kaied, while Zamalek accumulated three cautions of their own. Half-time brought a flurry of changes, with three players each side brought off at the interval.
We had backed the visitors to win, and that prediction came good. Zamalek controlled the tempo without dominating possession as much as their numbers suggested, and when the chance arrived they made the difference. The penalty gave them the lead they needed, and they held firm despite the pressure that comes with a one-goal advantage.
The statistics tell a story of efficiency over volume. Zamalek enjoyed 61 per cent possession and registered 124 attacks compared to Gazl El-Mahalla's 99, yet the home side managed seven shots off target against just three on target for the visitors. Expected goals figures showed 1.26 for Zamalek versus 0.66 for the hosts, though the final scoreline suggests Gazl El-Mahalla's defense held its shape when it mattered most.
The result extends Zamalek's unbeaten run to eight games across all competitions, with five wins and three draws in that span. Gazl El-Mahalla's form continues to worry their supporters, having lost three of their four league matches and drawing only against Enppi. The gap between the two sides in the table now stands at nine points, a margin that could grow if the hosts find no way back into their campaign.
