CAIRO — Zamalek’s title hopes suffered another blow with a 2-2 stalemate against NBE Club, as Ceramica Cleopatra kept their momentum alive with a vital win over Petrojet in a pair of action-packed Egyptian Premier League clashes in the fourth round of the Egyptian Premier League Championship Group.
Zamalek 2-2 NBE Club
At Cairo International Stadium, the White Knights made a dream start, opening the scoring in the first minute. Moroccan left-back Mahmoud Bentayg delivered a pinpoint cross that was redirected from the right flank by right-back Omar Gaber, setting up striker Nasr Mansi to fire home from the center of the box.
NBE Club responded in the 70th minute when striker Osama Faisal converted a penalty, awarded following a VAR review that confirmed a handball by Mansi inside the area.
Zamalek looked to have snatched victory in stoppage time, as veteran playmaker Abdullah Al-Saeed launched a long ball into the box. A defensive error allowed Tunisian forward Seifeddine Jaziri to score with a spectacular bicycle kick.
But the drama wasn’t over. Just two minutes later, midfielder Ahmed Rabie whipped in a cross from the right that was met by a powerful header from Burkinabe centre-back Saidou Simpore.
Although Mohamed Awad made the initial save, Togolese winger Yao Anwar reacted quickest to nod in the rebound and rescue a point for NBE Club.
The result sees Zamalek remains third on 40 points, while NBE Club sits fifth with 33 points.
Zamalek will take on Ceramica Cleopatra on Friday, while NBE Club prepares to host league leaders Pyramids FC later in the day.
Ceramica 2-0 Petrojet
Ceramica Cleopatra secured a valuable 2-0 win over Petrojet at Petrosport Stadium, in the fourth round of the Championship Group.
Midfielder Mohamed Reda Bobo broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error from Omar Salah, who failed to deal with Mazen Yasser’s cross, allowing Bobo to head home with ease.
Nine minutes later, Bobo turned provider, setting up winger Mahmoud Zalaka for a composed finish to double the lead and seal all three points.
The victory lifts Ceramica to sixth place with 30 points, while Petrojet remains ninth on 25 points as the race for a top-nine finish intensifies.
Modern 2-0 El-Mahalla
Modern Sport secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Ghazl El-Mahalla in the fourth round of the relegation escape group.
The match saw Mohamed Rizk put Modern ahead with a 16th-minute goal, followed by Mohamed Sobhy’s strike in the 31st minute to double the lead. Modern dominated the first half, controlling the pace of the game.
El-Mahalla’s lone response came from Tunisian forward Mohamed Ali Ben Hammouda, who netted their only goal in the second half.
With this result, Modern Sport’s tally rises to 15 points, still sitting in last place, while Ghazl El-Mahalla stays in sixth place with 20 points.
El-Gouna 1-0 Enppi
El-Gouna earned a vital 1-0 victory over Enppi in the relegation escape group battle same round.
This win brings El-Gouna’s total to 27 points, securing second place in the group, while Enppi remains in eighth place with 18 points, deepening their relegation fears.
The game’s defining moment came in stoppage time when Enppi’s centre-back Ahmed Sabeha fouled El-Gouna’s Nigerian left winger Favour Akem, awarding El-Gouna a penalty.
Centre-back Ahmed Shousha calmly converted the spot kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time to give the coastal team a crucial three points.
