Zamalek striker Nasser Mansi celebrates after scoring. Photo: Zamalek's official X account
The victory at Cairo International Stadium cements Zamalek’s position at the summit of the league table, moving them to 43 points, three ahead of both Pyramids FC and defending champions Ahly. Meanwhile, Ittihad remain 14th with 20 points.
Zamalek coach Motamed Gamal maintained the core of the squad that defeated Pyramids FC 1-0 on Monday, though he was forced to start El Mahdy Soliman in goal as Mohamed Sobhy served a suspension.
The White Knights started with intent, pressing their visitors from the whistle.
Nasser Mansi tested Ittihad goalkeeper Mahmoud ‘Genesh’ Abdel Rahim as early as the second minute, though the veteran keeper saved comfortably.
Four minutes later, Mansi nearly turned provider before seeing a powerful strike of his own deflected for a corner.
The breakthrough arrived in the 11th minute when Mansi rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross from Ahmed Fatouh, heading home from close range to give the league leaders the advantage.
The Alexandria-based side attempted to find an immediate response, but their efforts lacked the final ball to pierce a disciplined Zamalek backline.
They came closest in the 17th minute when Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdi, currently on loan from Ahly, rattled the crossbar with a curling free-kick.
Zamalek had chances to double their lead before the break, notably when Mohamed Shehata fired wide after a slick pass from Abdallah El Said.
However, the game took a dramatic turn in the 35th minute when Ittihad were reduced to ten men after Karim El-Deeb was sent off for violent conduct following a VAR review.
The numerical advantage did not last until the interval, as Shehata also received his marching orders in stoppage time after his yellow card was upgraded to a red, leaving both sides with ten men heading into the locker rooms.
Resilient Zamalek preserve the points
Despite the balanced numbers, Ittihad of Alexandria enjoyed periods of superior possession in the second half, controlling the tempo but struggling to test Soliman.
It took until the 68th minute for the visitors to create a clear opening, as Abdel Rahman Magdi unleashed a stinging drive from the edge of the area that forced a brilliant save from Soliman.
Seeking to regain control, Gamal introduced Palestinian forward Oday Dabbagh and youngster Mohamed El-Sayed.
The changes almost paid dividends immediately, as Dabbagh met El Sayed’s cross in front of an open goal but mistimed his touch, sending the ball agonizingly wide.
Ittihad continued to push for an equalizer, and Soliman was again called into action in the 78th minute to deny Afsha from distance.
At the other end, Genesh kept the Alexandrian side in the game with a series of saves, denying Dabbagh and later Bezzera in the final minutes.
In a frantic period of stoppage time, Abdel Rahman Magdi nearly snatched a point for Ittihad on the counter-attack, but his curling effort whistled just past the upright, allowing the White Knights to claim all three points.
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