CAIRO — Zamalek reclaimed their winning form in the Egyptian Premier League, while Haras el-Hodood celebrated their first victory of the 2024-2025 season, with a triumph over Talae el-Geish in the seventh round of competition.
At Cairo International Stadium, Zamalek secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Al-Ittihad of Alexandria, marking its first win under the guidance of Swiss coach Christian Gross following two consecutive draws.
This triumph followed a mixed start under Gross’s management, with Zamalek drawing their first two matches—1-1 against Ceramica Cleopatra and 2-2 against Talae el-Geish—before finally clinching this victory over their Alexandrian rivals.
The victory propelled Zamalek to the top of the league table with 14 points, while Al-Ittihad sits in seventh place with 9 points.
The match began with Zamalek applying constant pressure in search of an early breakthrough, while Al-Ittihad held firm with a disciplined defense
In the 16th minute, Al-Ittihad’s left-back Karim el-Deeb tested Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Awad with a powerful shot, which Awad expertly parried. Four minutes later, Zamalek’s forward Hossam Ashraf narrowly missed with a header that skimmed past the left post.
Al-Ittihad suffered an early blow in the 26th minute when midfielder Fadi Farid was forced off due to injury, leading to Abdul Ghani Mohamed’s substitution. The substitute was later shown a yellow card for dissent.
Despite late efforts from both teams, the first half ended in a 0-0 draw.
Zamalek emerged from the break with renewed attacking vigor. In the 58th minute, Abdul Ghani Mohamed was shown a second yellow card for simulation in the penalty area, leaving Al-Ittihad with 10 players.
In the 63rd minute, Zamalek substituted Hossam Ashraf for forward Nasser Mansi, and four minutes later, Mansi scored the opening goal with a header from a cross by right-back Omar Gaber, sending the ball into the right corner of Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Sobhi Suleiman’s net.
Zamalek doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Nabil Emad “Donga” scored from long range, with his shot deflecting off Al-Ittihad defender Karim el-Deeb into the net.
Goalkeeper Suleiman made a brilliant save to deny Mansi a second goal from close range, keeping the scoreline at 2-0.
Goalkeeper Suleiman denied Mansi a second goal with a close-range save, keeping the score at 2-0. Zamalek then brought on Mahmoud Abdel-Razek “Shikabala” for Mostafa Shalaby and center-back Hamza Mathlouthi for Donga, but despite continued pressure, they couldn’t extend their lead.
At Alexandria Stadium, Haras el-Hodood secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Talae el-Geish, marking their first win of the season. Goals from striker Hazem Mohamed, forward Mofosse Karidioula, and center-back Abdel-Rahman Gouda sealed the win.
The victory propelled Haras el-Hodood to 14th place with six points, a significant improvement from their previous position at the bottom of the table. In contrast, Talae El-Geish, with eight points, suffered their third defeat and remained in 10th place.
Hazem Mohamed opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a header from a precise cross by right-winger Fawzi el-Henawy. In the 59th minute, Ivorian forward Mofosse Karidioula doubled the lead with a clinical strike set up by midfielder Mohamed Ashraf Roqa. Abdel-Rahman Gouda sealed the win with a powerful header off another El-Henawy corner in the 81st minute.
Late in the match, Tanzanian midfielder Himid Mao Mkami was sent off with a red card, leaving Talae el-Geish unable to mount a comeback as Haras el-Hodood celebrated a convincing win.
