Zamalek achieved its first victory in the Egyptian league this season, after beating Al-Ahly Bank with a clean sheet, within the competitions of the second round, to launch the defending champion in his real journey to defend the championship.
The victory came after Zamalek drew negatively with Al-Ittihad Alexandria in the opening round, during a match in which coach Motamed Gamal’s team showed a disappointing performance, especially at the offensive level and creating chances.
The result remained suspended until the 51st minute, when substitute Chico Panza succeeded in scoring the first goal for Zamalek, giving his team the advantage after participating at the start of the second half.
Hossam Ashraf strengthened the Whites’ superiority by scoring the second goal in the 88th minute, so that the striker returning to Zamalek celebrated after the end of his loan to Smouha in the best possible way, and confirmed his ability to give Motamed Gamal an additional solution in the front line.
From a counter-attack in the 95th minute, Mohamed El-Sayed sent a cross to the other substitute, Esho, who turned it into the net, giving the White Knight the third goal and confirming the wide victory.
With this victory, Zamalek raised its score to 4 points from two matches, and also kept a clean sheet for the second consecutive match, which is a good defensive start for the team despite the offensive stumble in the first round.
The victory gives Motamed Gamal some calm before completing the journey of defending the league title, especially since the coach is working amid a limited list and successive administrative and financial crises, foremost of which are the decisions to suspend registration, fines and late dues.
Zamalek also played the match in the absence of Brazilian Juan Bezzera due to his absence from training, making the victory even more important in light of the loss of one of the team’s most prominent attacking elements during the last season.
Zamalek will host Suez Petrojet in its next match, on the evening of Monday, August 31, 2026, at eight o’clock Cairo time, at Cairo International Stadium as part of the third round competitions.
