Zamalek winger Mahmoud Abdel-Razek “Shikabala” stuck three swerving free kicks in the net of Alexandria's Ittihad on Thursday, leading his team to a 4-3 victory and clinching full points of the game to move seven points clear on top.

The hat-trick hero Shikabala scored in the 33^rd, 43^rdand 75^thminute to increase his tally to eight goals this season becoming the league's leading scorer. Team mate Ahmed Gaafar completed the rout by scoring in the 35^thminute. Ittihad were reduced to ten men midway through the first half but managed to score three times through Cameroonian striker Edet Otobong (40) and a double from former Zamalek and Ahly striker Hani El-Egeizy (7 and 56).

The visitors got an early lead after seven minutes on a well-placed header from Al-Egeizy. Zamalek's international defender Mahmoud Fathallah missed a golden opportunity to bring the score level when he failed to score from the penalty spot.

The send-off of Ittihad’s defender Al-Sayed Farid in the 32^ndminute seemed to be crucial as Shikabala and Gaafar scored two quick goals in two minutes to get in the lead.

Five minutes later, Otobong hit the equalizer on the counter after chipping the ball over keeper Abdel-Wahed El Sayed. But it was far from the end for this half time, as Shikabala curled in the third to give the hosts a 3-2 deserved lead before the break.

Almost mirroring the first half, El-Egeizy scored from a 20-yard free kick to double his tally of goals and level the score at 3-3.

Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan threw in more attacking options as Hazem Emam and Abou Kone came off the bench, but it seemed he already had his ace on the pitch. The Whites’ number 10 fired another trademark free kick decider to earn the full points of the game to his side.

Zamalek are now seven points clear on top with seven points, while Ittihad are 15^th in the 16-team table with only nine points.