Egyptian Premier League Group A strugglers El-Entag El-Harby, Ghazl El-Mahalla and Ragaa failed in their bid to drag themselves out of the drop zone following defeats by Arab Contractors, Gouna and Dakhleya respectively on Wednesday.

Rock bottom Entag were downed 2-0 by Contractors, courtesy of goals from Mohamed Abo-Sheishaa and ex-Ahly frontman Mohamed Fadl either side of the interval.

Entag, who have 13 points, are all but demoted to the second division with only one match to go while Contractors remained fourth on 29 points, one adrift of Ahly who take on Ittihad later in the day. 

Elsewhere, an action-packed affair saw Dakhleya cruise to a thumping 5-2 victory over debutants Ragaa, with Guinean forward Lama Kone bagging a hat-trick for his side.

It wasn't until the 41st minute of the first half when Dakhleya opened the scoring through Kone, whose strike was followed by two quickfire goals from Hossam Salama and the Guinean's second of the evening.

Tarek Salem pulled one back for Ragaa in the second half before Kone completed his treble and Egypt international Ahmed Temsah put the icing on the cake in stoppage time.

Newcomers Ragaa, who have two games left, are second from bottom on 15 points as Dakhleya are safe in seventh spot with 22 points..

Ninth-placed Ghazl El-Mahalla also failed to break into safety after being handed a 3-0 defeat by Gouna.

The Hurghada-based side were lifted by a brace from former Ahly and Zamalek striker Sherif Ashraf, who scored either side of an Islam Mohareb goal.

The result froze Mahalla, who still have three games, in ninth place - which qualifies for a relegation play-off whose loser joins the bottom two of both groups to the second division. Gouna are fifth on 25 points with two matches to go. 

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