CAIRO — The opening matches of the 10th round of the 2024-2025 Egyptian Premier League season showcased thrilling action. Al-Ahly, Pyramids FC, Talae el-Geish, and Pharco FC played to draws, while Ceramica Cleopatra and Al-Ittihad Alexandria earned crucial victories.
The race for the top spot in the domestic league intensified after Al-Ahly and Pyramids played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at Cairo International Stadium.
The result kept Pyramids FC at the top of the standings with 21 points from 10 matches, while Al-Ahly remained in second place with 20 points from the same number of games.
Pyramids took the lead early, courtesy of an own goal by Al-Ahly defender Rami Rabia in the 18th minute. The lead was doubled in the 51st minute when winger Mostafa Fathi converted a penalty.
Al-Ahly responded quickly, with Rabia scoring in the 52nd minute and newly signed Slovenian forward Nejc Gradisar netting the equalizer just two minutes later.
The match was marked by high tension, including a red card for Pyramids midfielder Ahmed Tawfik in the 41st minute and a missed penalty by Al-Ahly’s Emam Ashour after a VAR review.
Tensions peaked in the 41st minute when referee Mahmoud el-Banna issued a red card to Tawfik for a reckless challenge on Al-Ahly left-back Kareem el-Debis, following a VAR review.
In the 85th minute, Ashour nearly put Al-Ahly ahead after a brilliant pass from playmaker Mohamed Magdy “Afsha,” but his effort was blocked by Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed el-Shenawy.
In a dramatic moment, Al-Ahly was awarded a penalty after a challenge between Gradisar and defender Ali Gabr, confirmed by VAR. However, Ashour failed to convert, missing the chance to seal the victory.
Despite late attempts by both sides, the game ended in a draw. Pyramids remain top of the league with 21 points from 10 games, while Al-Ahly stays second with 20 points from the same number of matches.
At Ghazl el-Mahalla Stadium, Ceramica Cleopatra secured a narrow 1-0 win over Ghazl el-Mahalla, thanks to a late goal by South African forward Fakhry Lakai in the 86th minute.
With this result, Ceramica Cleopatra climbs to third place in the league standings with 19 points from 10 matches, while Ghazl el-Mahalla remains in 14th position with 8 points from 10 games.
At Cairo’s Military Sports Authority Stadium, Talae el-Geish and Pharco FC played out a goalless draw, resulting in both teams sharing the spoils.
With this outcome, Talae el-Geish sits in 12th place with 12 points from 10 matches, while Pharco FC occupies 11th place with an equal tally of 12 points.
At Alexandria’s Borg el-Arab Stadium, Al-Ittihad of Alexandria clinched a crucial 1-0 victory over Ismaili in a tightly contested match.
The decisive moment came in the 30th minute when left winger Shokry Naguib scored the only goal, converting a precise pass from midfielder Omar el-Wahsh with a powerful shot that struck the crossbar before finding the net.
The game saw controversy in the 80th minute when Ismaili’s striker Marwan Hamdy went down in the penalty area, sparking heated protests. However, the referee dismissed Ismaili’s appeals, adding to the tension.
Despite Ismaili’s determined attempts to equalize, Al-Ittihad’s resolute defense held firm, securing all three points.
This win propels Al-Ittihad to ninth place in the standings with 13 points, while Ismaili remains 10th place with 12 points.
