Egyptian Premier League leaders Zamalek were held to a 2-2 draw by Arab Contractors at Cairo stadium on Thursday to lose two precious points in the title race.

The White Knights are on the top of the league table with 40 points, four points ahead of Ahly who have played three matches less.

Mohamed Samir opened the scoring for Arab Contractors in the 23rd minutes, while the hosts responded with a two goals, thanks to a brace from Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki on 30 and 49 minutes respectively.

Former PSG youth player Abdallah Yassin scored a late goal to level the score for the visitors with ten minutes remaining.

Arab Contractors started the game in style with Colombian winger Luis Hinestroza creating a constant threat on the right side with his darting runs leaving left-back Abdallah Gomaa struggling to contain him.

In the 23rd minute Hinestroza went clear on the right hand side of the area before sending a nice cross to Yassin who was fouled in the area by Tarek Hamed.

Defender and penalty kick specialist Mohamed Samir converted the penalty after sending Zamalek keeper on the wrong way.

However they could only protect their lead for seven minutes as Bencharki leveled the score from the spot after a tackle on Moroccan striker Hamid Ahadad inside the box.

The Whites maintained their high pressing game and Bencharki grabbed the double four minutes with a precise header in an empty net following a miss-timed jump from Arab Contractors keeper Mahmoud Aboul Seoud.

The vistors pressed forward and Karim Mostafa came close from the equaliser at the hour mark but his powerful shot from inside the box was denied by keeper Mahmoud "Gennesh" Abdel-Rehim.

As Zamalek sat back on defence, Yassin himself unmarked inside the area after a poor clearance from Gennesh to score the equaliser with a nice shot in the 80th minute.

Zamalek intensified were back on the attack and an attempt by Shikbala in the dying was cleared from the goal line by defender Bassem Ali to share the points of this game.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)