Zamalek return to winning ways with 4-0 league victory

Ahram Online , Wednesday 7 Dec 2022

Zamalek turned on style to crush Talae El Gaish 4-0 and end a two-match winless run in the Egyptian Premier League on Wednesday.

Zamalek
Zamalek players celebrate their opening goal against Talae El Gaish (Photo: Zamalek s official Facebook page)

 

The White Knights struggled to break down El Gaish's massed ranks in a dour first half but still managed to go to the locker room with a 1-0 lead, thanks to a fortuitous goal from Ahmed Zizo.

They opened the floodgates in the second half to claim a comprehensive win, taking advantage of the acres of space El Gaish left at the back after the latter abandoned their cautious approach.

Emam Ashour doubled Zamalek's lead with a fine first-timer from inside the area and Egyptian international left-back Ahmed Fattouh, who returned from injury, made it 3-0 following a superb exchange of passes with Ashour.

Substitute Youssef Nabih put the icing on the cake in stoppage time following a brilliant solo effort.

Zamalek moved up to second in the table with 11 points, four behind leaders Ahly. El Gaish remained 13th with four points from five matches.

Usual position

After Zamalek coach Jesualdo Ferreira was criticized for changing the usual positions of some players as the team were held to two straight draws by Enppi and Masry, he reverted to basics against El Gaish.

Zizo played in his favourite position as a right winger as Zamalek appeared a much improved side.

Tunisian defender Hamza Mathlouthi had a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review on 21 minutes but Zizo made amends on the stroke of halftime when his intended cross from a free kick eluded everyone to wrong-foot the keeper and nestle into the far corner.

Ashour scored his second goal of the season to extend the lead on 57 minutes. Zizo fed full-back Sayed Abdallah down the right with a ball over the top to cut the ball back for Ashour, who swept it in off the post with a first-timer.

Spot-kick specialist Zizo had a penalty saved by El Gaish keeper Emad El-Sayed but it mattered little as Fattouh put the result beyond doubt with seven minutes remaining, playing a neat one-two with Ashour before lobbing the goalie with his weak right foot.

Nabih saved the best for the last, running from the halfway line and dribbling past four defenders in the process before firing home from inside the area.

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