CAIRO – The third week of the 2023-24 Egyptian Premier League season saw defending champions Al-Ahly maintained its perfect start as arch-rivals Zamalek claimed first domestic win of the season. Meanwhile, last season’s runner-up, Pyramids FC, powered past a timid Enppi.
At Borg el-Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau scored twice for Al-Ahly, as they trounced Ismaili SC 3-1 in their encounter.
Tau opened the scoring in the 23rd minutes with a brilliant shot under the crossbar as winger Hussein el-Shahat added the second in the 39th minutes.
The former Brighton man increased the lead with a brilliant effort in the 65th minutes to effectively put the outcome beyond doubt.
Togolese striker Yaw Annor scored Ismaili’s sole goal in the injury time.
Al-Ahly has now six points at fifth place in the league from two matches as they had a game in hand against Ceramica Cleopatra which postponed due to the Red Devils’ participation in the CAF Champions League.
Ismaili dropped into 11th spot with three points from three matches.
At Cairo’s June 30 Stadium, Pyramids FC stunned Enppi 1-0.
Congolese striker Fiston Mayele struck a decisive first-half winner in the 13th minutes.
The result pushed Pyramids FC to 4th place with seven points from three matches as Enppi remained at 15th place with one point from three matches.
Zamalek, meanwhile, snatched a dramatic 2-1 win over NBE Club at Cairo International Stadium.
NBE took the lead through forward Karim Bambou in the 45+9 after Zamalek was reduced to 10 players in the 46th because of a red card for goalkeeper Mohamed Awad.
The White Knights levelled through winger Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’ in the 54th minutes.
Zamalek’s captain Mahmoud Abdel-Razek ‘Shikabala’ scored a dramatic late winner in the 90th minutes.
The victory is the first for Zamalek in three games in the domestic league.
This result left NBE Club winless in 18th spot without any points earned so far from three matches.
Zamalek is now in seventh place with five points from three matches.
At Cairo’s Military Sports Authority Stadium, Modern Future FC made it three wins out of three as they swept past Talae el-Geish 2-0.
Right-winger Omar Kamal opened the scoring in the 44th minutes as striker Marwan Mohsen added the second in the 86th minutes.
The victory cemented Modern Future on top of the domestic standing with nine points from three matches as Talae el-Geish stayed in 9th place with four points from three matches.
Pharco FC fought back to earn a 2-2 draw with Ceramica Cleopatra at Borg el-Arab Stadium.
Nigerian centre-forward John Ebuka opened the scoring for Ceramica Cleopatra in the 11th minutes of the game as Algerian midfielder Ahmed Kendouci added the second eight minutes later.
After waves of attacks, Ceramica’s Waleed Ali succeeded in scoring his side’s first goal four minutes before the end of the first-half.
But two minutes before the stoppage time, Ceramica Cleopatra equalised when Sudanese winger Seif Teiri scored with a diving header from a free kick into the box.
The draw left Ceramica Cleopatra to 14th place with one point from two matches as Pharco FC stayed in 17th place with one point from three matches.
At Borg el-Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Al-Masry of Port Said defeated El- Dakhleya 3-1.
Al-Masry’s goals came from winger Mido Gaber in the 8th minutes as striker Marwan Hamdi added the second in the 49th minutes while defender Baher el-Mohamady scored the third in the 66th minutes.
El-Dakhleya scored a late consolation through defender Ehab Samir in the 81st minutes.
Al-Masry climbed to sixth place on six points from three matches as El-Dakhleya stayed in 12th place with three points from three games.
At Alexandria Stadium, El-Gouna and Al-Ittihad of Alexandria shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
El-Gouna seemed on course for victory when two goals in as many minutes from Moroccan winger Ahmed Belhadji gave them a 2-0 lead after 50 minutes.
But Angolan striker Mabululu scored twice to pull one back for Al-Ittihad 20 minutes later and then added a stoppage-time equaliser from the penalty spot in the 90+9 minutes.
The draw dropped Al-Ittihad of Alexandria into 10th place with four points from three matches as El-Gouna stayed in 13th place with two points from three matches.
