A double from deep-lying forward Youssef Ibrahim gave Zamalek their fourth consecutive Egyptian Premier League win as they beat El-Entag El-Harby 2-1 in a hard-fought game on Saturday.

He opened the scoring after finishing off a flowing move on 16 minutes and added the second with a simple tap-in nine minutes from time to take his tally to six league goals, just two behind top scorer and teammate Mahmoud Alaa.

In between, Zamalek keeper Mahmoud Gennesh pulled off a string of impressive saves to prevent Entag from restoring parity on a number of occasions, including blocking a first-half penalty.

The hosts scored a stoppage-time consolation though via another penalty converted by Mohamed Ragab. Both Entag and Zamalek had Mohamed Maged and Mohamed Abdel-Ghani sent off respectively for throwing punches at each other just before the final whistle.

Zamalek are on top of the table with 26 points as they eye their first league crown in four years. They are six ahead of second-placed Maqassa, who played a game more. Entag lie fifth with 19 points.

Entag had the first opportunity when a curling shot from Mahmoud Hamada struck the woodwork on 12 minutes but Zamalek went ahead four minutes later following a fine three-man move.

Mahmoud Kahraba found winger Ibrahim Hassan whose deft first-time pass released Youssef Ibrahim to fire a low shot home with the outside of his foot.

Entag then gained the upper hand, with Zamalek's Gennesh smothering a shot at his near post before diving the right way to handle a tame penalty from left-back Ahmed Shedid.

They continued to pile on pressure after the break and wasted several goal-scoring chances, with Gennesh in inspired form.

Entag were punished for their profligacy when Ibrahim ensured the win an 81^st-minute goal, slotting into an empty net after substitute Mohamed Ibrahim squared the ball to him.

But for the third match running Zamalek fail to keep a clean sheet as Ragab sent Gennesh the wrong way from the spot.

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