Ahly's defender Mostafa El Aash in action during the match against Enppi. Photo courtesy of Ahly.
Ahmed El Agouz's 65th minute penalty canceled out Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan first half goals to force the Cairo giants to drop more points.
Ahmed El Agouz equalised for Enppi in the 65th minute from the penalty spot after Aliou Dieng was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the area.
The Cairo giants started aggressively, pressing Enppi’s defence early, though without a clear threat.
Striker Mohamed Sherif squandered two chances in the opening 15 minutes.
The Reds suffered an early setback as winger Ahmed "Zizo" El Sayed was stretched off the pitch with a muscule injury midway through the first half.
Trezeguet was lively on the left flank but failed to convert individual efforts into real danger. His persistence paid off in the 34th minute when he rose above his marker to send a powerful header, connecting with a wide cross from Mohamed Hany.
Three minutes after the opening goal, Sherif fired a powerful effort from outside the box, forcing Enppi goalkeeper Abdelrahman Samir into a save that resulted in a corner.
Drama ensued at the end of the first half when Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy was shown a red card for a challenge on Enppi midfielder Ahmed Ismail.
However, after a VAR review, the decision was downgraded to a yellow card.
Ahly resumed the second half with similar intensity. In the 48th minute, Trezeguet unleashed a shot from inside the area, but Enppi's compact defence blocked the attempt.
Two minutes later, Taher’s corner found Trezeguet again, whose header went just wide of the left post.
Enppi were awarded a penalty in the 65th minute after Dieng’s foul in the box, and El Agouz calmly slotted home the equaliser.
El-Nahhas responded by introducing Achraf Bencharki and Nejc Gradisar for Dieng and Sherif to add attacking impetus.
Bencharki made an immediate impact, displaying skillful control in the area before sending a curling shot narrowly past the right post.
Enppi nearly took the lead in the 72nd minute when Ahmed Sabeha’s header was saved by El-Shenawy, only for the rebound to fall to Ahmed Zaki, who headed just wide.
Three minutes later, midfielder Marwan Attia tested Samir from distance, but the Enppi goalkeeper tipped the shot over for a corner.
El-Nahhas made his final changes late on, bringing on Emam Ashour and Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdi in a bid to secure a late winner.
Enppi, however, defended resolutely, frustrating Ahly in the closing stages.
The match ended after seven minutes of added time, with both sides sharing the points.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: