Veteran Mahmoud ‘Shikabala’ Abdel-Razik snatched the lead for the white ten minutes before the break at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium after receiving a brilliant low pass from right-back Sayed ‘Neymar’ Abdallah inside the area.

Winger Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed, who missed a penalty kick in the 26th minute, netted a brace for Zamalek in the 39th and 42nd minutes before heading to the dressing rooms.

Zamalek dominated the game during the second half in a step to notch the fourth goal but their efforts were suspended by Smouha’s defence.

Smouha forward Mohamed Sabahi scored his team’s only goal one minute before the final whistle after following the ball on the goal line to finish the game with a 3-1 win for Zamalek.

The Egyptian Premier League title holders, Zamalek returned to the 4th place in the league table with 32 points, five points behind leaders and arch-rivals Ahly who played three matches less.

Smouha stayed in the 12th place with 20 points after playing 18 games so far this season.

Since the start of the new year 2023, Zamalek played 10 games in all competitions claiming only two victories 2-1 over Future FC in the 16th matchday of the league and Monday’s victory over Smouha.

Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira, who promised a new era with Zamalek, returned at the helm last week in a third spell as head coach less than 10 days after his sacking by the club president due to poor results.

Ferreira failed to achieve his promise on Friday as the Whites suffered a 1-0 loss to Algeria’s Belouizdad in the first round of the CAF Champions League group stage but this time hopes came true by beating the coastal side.

Zamalek will have a tough mission away from home against Al Merreikh of Sudan at Libya’s Benina Martyrs Stadium on Friday as they will be hoping to regain their winning rhythm.

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