CAIRO – Zamalek’s winless streak in the Egyptian Premier League extended to three consecutive matches following a 1-1 draw with ZED FC in the 16th round. Meanwhile, Al-Masry of Port Said secured a victory, while Talae el-Geish and NBE Club battled to an exciting 2-2 draw.
The Whites had previously drawn with Al-Ahly in the 15th round and Petrojet in the 14th, further denting their title aspirations.
At Cairo International Stadium, Zamalek and ZED FC shared the points in a tightly contested 1-1 draw.
ZED FC took the lead in the 25th minute when left winger Moustafa Zico capitalized on a corner kick to beat Zamalek’s goalkeeper Mohamed Awad.
However, Zamalek responded just before halftime, with striker Nasser Mansi equalizing in first-half stoppage time (45+5). The match also saw Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Shehata sent off in the 90+5th minute.
With this result, Zamalek remained in third place with 29 points from 16 matches, recording eight wins, five draws, and three losses. ZED FC, meanwhile, climbed to 10th place with 20 points from 16 matches, securing four wins, eight draws, and four defeats.
The match began cautiously, with both teams struggling to create significant chances in the opening 15 minutes. ZED FC broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Zico capitalized on a corner kick to put his side ahead.
Zamalek pushed forward aggressively in the second half, searching for a winning goal, while ZED FC relied on counter-attacks. However, the 1-1 scoreline remained unchanged after 60 minutes. Referee Mohamed el-Sabahy later disallowed a goal by Mansi in the 68th minute due to offside.
Zamalek head coach Jose Peseiro expressed disappointment with the result but praised his team’s overall performance.
“We wasted many opportunities, while the opponent capitalized on the only chance they had,” Peseiro said in the post-match press conference.
“I’m disappointed with the draw, but I’m pleased with the players’ efforts. We work every day to improve their quality, and everyone shares responsibility for the result,” the Portuguese tactician added.
Peseiro also lamented the absence of the fans, emphasizing their crucial role in supporting the team.
Addressing the team’s title hopes, Peseiro admitted the result was a setback but remained confident in his squad.
“Dropping two points today certainly impacts our title race. The penalty that was not awarded was clear to everyone. Nevertheless, my team played excellent football against ZED,” he concluded.
At Cairo’s Military Sports Authority Stadium, Talae el-Geish and NBE Club played to a 2-2 draw in a thrilling encounter.
Talae el-Geish took the lead through left-back Hamed el-Gabry Khaled in the 27th minute, followed by a goal from right winger Youssry Wahid in the 58th minute.
However, NBE Club staged a late comeback, with striker Osama Faisal scoring in the 84th minute before forward Ahmed Yasser Ryan converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure the draw.
With this result, Talae el-Geish remained in ninth place with 21 points, while NBE Club moved up to fifth with 26 points.
At the New Suez Stadium, Al-Masry of Port Said secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Smouha.
Striker Salah Mohsen opened the scoring in the fifth minute before doubling the lead in first-half stoppage time. Nigerian center-forward John Ebuka sealed the win with a third goal in second-half stoppage time.
The match marked the debut of Tunisian coach Anis Boujelbene, who recently took charge following Ali Maher’s departure to manage Ceramica Cleopatra.
With this result, Al-Masry climbed to fourth place in the league standings with 27 points from 16 matches, boasting seven wins, six draws, and three losses, with 15 goals scored and nine conceded.
Smouha, meanwhile, dropped to 13th place with 17 points from 16 matches, recording five wins, two draws, and nine defeats, scoring 12 goals and conceding 22.
