Full time: Zamalek 3-1 Ahly
Scorers: Ahmed Zizo 13, Mostafa Mohamed 71, Osama Faisal 90+3/ Yasser Ibrahim 62
The referee blows his final whistle, Zamalek secure a morale-boosting Cairo derby win over Ahly. Thanks for following our live updates!
90+8' Kasongo scores a fourth but his goal is correctly ruled out for offside!
90+3' Zamalek end the match as a contest! Youngster Osama Faisal pokes the ball into an empty net after a neatly-worked counter attack. Bencharki feeds Ounajem on the right hand side of the area and the Moroccan sends the ball across a crowd of defenders to the unmarked Faisal for an easy tap-in.
90+3 GOOOOOAL FOR Zamalek!!
90+2' A chance for Ahly! Walid Soliman's low volley goes just wide after a deflected shot falls into his path in the area.
90' The referee adds eight minutes of stoppage time. Ahly have the time to go level!
89' Zamalek substitute Osama Faisal is booked for a rash challenge.
87' Zamalek will continue with ten men after making four substitutions on three times.
86' Zamalek defender Abdel-Shafi sustains what looks a serious arm injury.
83' Ahly defender Ayman Ashraf is booked for remonstrating with the referee.
83' Ahly will now resort to long balls to attacking duo Badji and Marwan Mohsen.
82' Zamalek's Mostafa Mohamed, who scored the brilliant second goal, is replaced for youngster Osama Faisal. Right-back Hazem Emam also makes way for defender Mohamed Abdel-Ghani.
81' A header from Marwan Mohsen misses the target.
79' Ahly make another double substitution. Striker Marwan Mohsen replaces playmaker Afsha and right-back Ahmed Fathi replaces defensive midfielder Hamdi Fathi.
76' Ahly are expected to mount on onslaught in the remaining 15 minutes to restore parity.
72' Zamalek striker Mostafa Mohamed scores a brilliant goal to restore their advantage! With his back to goal, he chests a cross from Hazem Emam, holds off Yasser Ibrahim, swivels and hits a wonderful volley into the bottom corner of the net.
71' GOOOOOAL FOR Zamalek!!
70' A clear-cut chance for Zamalek! Kasongo's far-post effort is blocked by El-Shennawi following a diagonal cross from Mohamed Ounajem.
68' Ahly keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi tips over a curling free kick from Bencharki.
67' Ahly midfielder El-Sulaya is booked for a challenge on Bencharki as the Moroccan bursts towards the area.
63' Zamalek make another substitution. Congelese forward Kabongo Kasongo replaces Youssef Ibrahim.
62' Yasser Ibrahim finally brings Ahly level! Chipping the ball into the net after a goal-mouth scramble after a header was blocked by Abou-Gabal.
62' GOOOOOAL FOR Ahly!!
62' Ahly spurn another golden chance!! A flick by Badji releases Walid Soliman, who loses control of the ball but manages to redeem himself to send a low cross to the far post but Hamdi makes a last-ditch clearance.
61' The referee decides against awarding a penalty after checking the video replay.
60' The referee is now checking the video replay to decide whether to award a penalty.
58' Ahly appeal for a penalty after a challenge from Mahmoud Alaa on Walid Soliman.
58' Ahly lay siege to Zamalek's area, can the White Knights survive the relentless pressure?
55' Another clear-cut chance for Ahly! Afsha's side-footed low effort comes back off the post after a lay-off from Geraldo!
53' Zamalek make their first substitution. Moroccan winger Mohamed Ounajem replaces Ahmed Zizo, who scored the game's only goal.
50' Ahly midfielder Hamdi Fathi is booked for a mis-timed challenge on Abou-Gabal, who pushes away a floated cross.
48' Another header from Magdi Afsha misses the target as Ahly pile on pressure.
47' Ahly go close! Yasser Ibrahim heads a corner just wide.
47' Zamalek's central defender Mahmoud Alaa clears a dangerous long ball.
46' Ahly make a double substitution. Angolan Geraldo replaces Junior Ajayi and veteran winger Walid Soliman replaces Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng.
The second half is underway
The referee blows his halftime whistle
45+4' Ahly's Dieng is booked for a reckless challenge on an opponent.
45+3' Bencharki collects a superb long ball from Tarek Hamed and cuts inside his marker but his shot is blocked by a defender.
45' Ahly's right-back Mohamed Hani receives a yellow card for tugging the shirt of Youssef Ibrahim.
45' The referee adds five minutes of stoppage time.
43' Zamalek are pinned in their own half but Ahly are hardly taking advantage.
40' A free kick from Ahly's left-back Ali Maaloul goes over the bar.
38' Ahly are hindered by too many mis-placed passes.
36' A deflected effort by Zamalek's lively winger Sayed 'Zizo' goes out for a corner.
34' Ahly's main weapon is sending crosses to the towering Badji, who is causing constant menace to Zamalek's central defenders.
29' As they usually do in such high-profile games under Carteron, Zamalek sit back to soak up pressure.
25' Although Ahly have the better possession, Zamalek's swift breakaways look dangerous.
24' A low cross from Ahly striker Badji is cleared by the Zamalek defence.
21' Ahly midfielder El-Sulaya shoots from distance but his effort is easily saved by Abou-Gabal.
20' Ahly playmaker Afsha blasts high over from the edge of the area.
19' Playing without established wingers is hampering Ahly.
15' Zamalek take advantage of space down the flank to grab the lead despite Ahly's early attempts.
13' Ahmed Sayed Zizo opens the scoring against the run of play following some brilliant work from Achraf Bencharki! The Moroccan winger skips past Yasser Ibrahim on the left and sends an inviting low cross for Zizo to fire into the roof of an empty net at the far post.
13' GOOOOOAL FOR ZAMALEK!!
12' Another chance for Badji! He once again outjumps his marker and sends a header that is tipped over by keeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal.
10' A wayward pass from Zamalek forward Youssef Ibrahim is intercepted, depriving Zamalek from a promising chance.
8' At the other end, Mohamed Hani makes a timely headed clearance from a Zamalek cross after Ahly's defensive midfielder Hamdi Fathi loses possession in front of his own area.
7' Ahly's Junior Ajayi sneaks in behind his marker but his tame header from a right-wing cross goes straight into the hands of the keeper.
7' Ahly look more dangerous in the early stages.
6' What a chance for Ahly!! Aliou Badji rises above his marker and heads against the post following an inviting cross.
4' Both sides launch some innocuous long balls upfield.
2' Ahly midfielder Aliou Dieng tries his luck from distance but his shot goes wide.
The match is underway
Ahly and Zamalek's starting lineups:
Zamalek: Mohamed Abou Gabal, Hazem Emam, Mahmoud Alaa, Mahmoud Hamdi, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi, Tarek Hamed, Ferjani Sassi, Youssef Obama, Achraf Bencharki, Ahmed "Zizo" El Sayed, Mostafa Mohamed
Ahly: Mohamed El Shennawi, Mohamed Hani, Yasser Ibrahim, Ayman Ashraf, Ali Maaloul, Amr El-Sulaya, Hamdi Fathi, Aliou Dieng, Mohamed "Afsha" Magdi, Junior Ajayi, Aliou Badji
20:30 Zamalek's Carteron sticks to his usual formation. He gives a start to forward Youssef Ibrahim, who has recently returned from injury.
20:30 Ahly coach Weiler opts to alter his usual starting line-up, fielding three holding midfielders in Hamdi Fathi, Aliou Dieng and Amr El-Sulaya. The shift appears down to the lack of enough wingers in the team's squad.
19:30 The reverse league fixture saw Ahly awarded a walkover win after Zamalek declined to show up in an acrimonious manner in February, saying the team bus had broken down --a claim which was later proven false.
18:30 There are no difficult selection decisions for Zamalek coach Carteron, apart from whether to start with deep-lying forward Youssef Ibrahim, who has recently recovered from injury.
17:30 The big question for Ahly coach Rene Weiler would be whether to start with the out-of-form Marwan Mohsen or Senegalese Aliou Badji as the lone striker. While Mohsen has misfired recently, Badji came off the bench to wrap up Ahly's 3-0 victory over Aswan.
16:10 Moroccan forward Achraf Bencharki stole the show then, mesmerizing opponents with his daring runs, deft touches and clinical finishing, with Tunisian midfielder Ferjani Sassi dictating play with his neat distribution of the ball and striker Mostafa Mohamed finishing powerfully in the box.
Defensive solidity was also evident, raising hopes that Zamalek could finally end their Champions League drought.
15:50 Zamalek hit top gear before the league's break, winning the African Super Cup after beating Tunisia's Esperance and defeating Ahly on penalties following a goalless draw in the Egyptian Super Cup.
15:20 The departure of Sobhi not only raises alarm bells over Ahly's power in the transfer market, but it also deprives them of their most lethal attacking weapon, leaving the club short of creative options in the final third.
15:15 Sobhi, who was on loan from English side Huddersfield, told Ahly he plans to join the big-spending Pyramids, potentially changing the dynamics of football in Egypt as the Red Devils might not wield the same purchasing power that they had enjoyed for decades.
15:00 Rare off-field problems appear to hinder Ahly, a club known for its administrative stability, with a shock decision by star winger Ramadan Sobhi to turn down their offer to sign him on a permanent basis clouding their league campaign.
14:30 In the domestic league contest, both sides will be assessing their options after some patchy form of late.
Zamalek have been held to two draws in four games since the league resumed this month following a five-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, while Ahly settled for a solitary stalemate and had to contend with some laboured victories.
13:30 Ahly will meet Wydad Casablanca, with Zamalek taking on another Moroccan side in Raja in two-legged semi-final clashes. Ahly have not won the competition since clinching the last of their record eight titles in 2013, while Zamalek are eyeing their first triumph since 2002.
13:15 But for the time being, both are prioritising their ongoing Champions League campaigns, with Saturday's derby serving as a warm-up and testament to who will have the edge when Africa's blue-riband competition resumes next month.
12:30 Zamalek, on the other hand, are aware that their only realistic hope is to finish second and earn a spot in the Champions League next season.
12:00 For Ahly, Egypt and Africa's most successful outfit, winning the domestic league for a fifth consecutive season appears a mere formality as they enjoy a staggering 17-point lead over second-placed Zamalek with more than half the season played.
11:30 Bitter rivals Ahly and Zamalek clash in the Egyptian Premier League on Saturday with an eye on a different competition -- the African Champions League, where both face tricky tests in the last four as they seek to end barren spells.
Stay tuned as match is due to start at 21:00 Cairo time (GMT+2)
Venue: Cairo’s international stadium
Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
Read the match full preview Here
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