The absence of the dynamic Mahmoud Abdel-Razeq, nicknamed ‘Shikabala’, badly affected Zamalek, who dropped two points in drawing 0-0 with Military Production in the Egyptian Premier League on Friday night in Cairo.
Shika, the current league top scorer with a nine-goal tally, was ruled out of the game, as he was serving a one-match ban for misconduct. The 24-year-older watched the game from the stands, alongside Ahmed Hossam ‘Mido’, who is understood to be close to joining Zamalek. Following the match, sports experts said that Shika was the mind of the team, with the adaptability to adapt from one position to another. They added that the coaching staff should make use of his talents. Zamalek’s coach Hossam Hassan deployed a strike partnership consisting of Abou Kone and Mohamed Amine Aoudia, but they weren't potent enough to snatch a goal. Ahmed Gaafar replaced Kone early in the second half, but his introduction didn't add much to the team's firepower. Production kept defending tightly, yet without organisation, throughout the 90 minutes. Leaders Zamalek are now on 32 points, while Production have 20 points. They both finished the match with ten men, after the referee sent off Kwabena Yaro and Mohamed Ibrahim, on 72 and 90 minutes respectively. Zamalek were clearly superior, but failed to translate their dominance into goals. Hussein Yasser tried his luck from outside the area more than once, almost succeeding twice early in the game. Mohamed Abdel-Shafei also fired a powerful shot on 24 minutes from distance, but goalie Nader Saad parried it away. Kone was the closest to scoring when the goal was at his mercy, but his close-range drive went agonisingly over the crossbar. Zamalek wasted a host of scoring chances after the break, with substitute Ibrahim excelling before receiving his marching orders. In the 50th minute, he sent a cross to release Algerian hitman Aoudia, whose tame effort was no threat. Hassan Moustafa also squandered another opportunity when he gathered a loose ball in the six-yard box, but wasn't fast enough to score. Production's Yaro was dismissed for two bookable offences within seconds, while Ibrahim was red carded for a naïve theatrical dive in the area. Meanwhile, an 81st-minute strike from substitute Moatasem Salem gave Ismaili a hard-fought 3-2 win over Harras Al-Hodoud in the league on Friday night in the Canal city of Ismailia. Ndubuisi Godwin hit the opener in the 20th minute when he diverted home a low cross. Godwin turned from scorer to provider five minutes later, as he sent a deft through ball to Mohamed Mohsen, who made no mistake from close range to double the Dervishes' lead. Ahmed Hassan Mekki pulled one back for Al-Hodoud five minutes past the half-hour mark with a powerful header, while Ahmed Abdel-Ghani brought the score level 15 minutes from time after an Ahmed Eid pass found him in the area. Defender Salem, who was introduced as a substitute in the 69th minute, netted the winning goal, heading home from a corner kick. Second-placed Ismaili are now on 29 points while Al-Hodoud lie 11th with 17.
