Al-Ahly revived its hopes of competing for the Egyptian Premier League title by beating its host and traditional rival Zamalek with a clean sheet, on Friday, at Cairo International Stadium in the fifth round of the coronation stage.
With this result, defending champions Al-Ahly raised their tally to 47 points in third place in the overall standings table, 3 points behind Zamalek and Pyramids, who are in first and second place, with only two rounds left to the end of the tournament.
Al-Ahly ended the first half with a two-goal lead after succeeding from the beginning in imposing its control, to take the lead in the 18th minute with the first goal with a header from Moroccan Ashraf Ben Sharqi after an elaborate cross from Taher Mohamed Taher.
Hussein Al-Shahat strengthened Al-Ahli's lead by scoring the second goal in the 32nd minute after a defensive mistake by Ahmed Fattouh to reach Ashraf Ben Sharqi, who passed it to Al-Shahat to put it over goalkeeper Al-Mahdi Suleiman in the net.
In the second half, Zamalek pressed in search of modifying the result and the referee awarded a penalty in his favor after obstructing Moroccan Mahmoud Bentaek inside the area, which was executed by Hossam Abdel Majid, but goalkeeper Mustafa Shoubert saved it in the 55th minute.
Al-Ahly received a penalty after a hand touch from Mohamed Shehata inside the area, but Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet" shot the ball into the left post in the 66th minute, to waste the chance to decide the result of the victory.
Ashraf Ben Sharqi concluded the hat-trick for Al-Ahli by scoring his second personal goal in the 74th minute with a ground shot from inside the box that passed under goalkeeper Mahdi Suleiman, after a pass from Imam Ashour.