Ahly fall further behind in title race with another 0-0 draw

Ahram Online , Wednesday 3 Aug 2022

Ahly were held to a 0-0 draw by top-flight debutants Pharco, their second successive goalless stalemate, to fall further behind in the Egyptian Premier League race on Wednesday as arch-rivals Zamalek moved very close to retaining their crown.

Ahly held to a 0-0 draw by Pharco in the Egyptian Premier League on Wednesday (Photo: Ahly s official Twitter account)

The Red Devils were poor in a first-half in which Pharco were better, with the minnows threatening once and creating some half-chances.

Ahly were reinvigorated following the second-half introduction of South African forward Percy Tau, who returned from a six-week injury layoff, as they pushed forward in search of a vital winner.

They thought they had achieved their target when Tau rifled into the roof of the net after Mozambican winger Luis Miquissone slipped a pass into his path in the 71st minute.

Tau's wild celebration was muted when the referee disallowed the goal following a VAR review. The decision was highly controversial, with television replays showing the former Brighton man in an onside position.

Pharco played the last few minutes with ten men after substitute Mahmoud Emad received a straight red card in the 87th minute for a reckless high-foot challenge on Ahly midfielder Mohamed Mahmoud.

However, they held on after defending stoutly in the dying minutes, dealing a fresh blow to Ahly's hopes of wrestling the title back from Zamalek.

Ahly lie third in the table with 56 points, three behind second-placed Pyramids FC and 10 adrift of Zamalek, who both played a game more. With only six rounds remaining, Zamalek are unlikely to surrender top spot.

Pharco, who boast the league's best defensive record with only 18 goals conceded, are eighth on 36 points.

Pharco went close in the first half when defender Rami Sabri headed just wide following a corner. They also had a couple of shots that narrowly missed the target.

Ahly could not muster a single effort in the first half but notably improved after the break.

Tau was the heart of most of their attempts and he was harshly denied a well-worked opener. Ahly were also unlucky not to score at the death when a low shot from Miquissone struck the post six minutes into stoppage time.

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