Hazem Emam scored Zamalek's second goal in Wednesday's Egyptian Premier League win over Haras El-Hodoud (Photo: Al-Ahram)
Zamalek strolled to a 2-0 home victory over a toothless Haras El-Hodoud side to dislodge the military outfit from the summit of the Egyptian league table and go top for the first time this season.
Egypt striker Khaled Kamar, who last found the net in the 6-1 opening win over Talae El-Geish, ended a five-match goal drought to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark before right-back Hazem Emam added a second 13 minutes from time.
The match saw Zamalek and Egypt keeper Ahmed El-Shennawi forced off the pitch on the stroke of halftime after sustaining an injury, ten days before the Pharaohs' crucial African Cup of Nations home qualifier with Senegal.
The Cairo giants, who secured their third win in a row under newly-appointed Portuguese manager Jaime Pacheco, currently top the table with 15 points, while Hodoud slipped to third on 12.
Two comparable goals
Zamalek boss Pacheco made only one change to his starting lineup from the Ittihad game, with young forward Youssef 'Obama' coming in for the beleaguered Omar Gaber, who was involved in a row with club chairman Mortada Mansour over his support of the controversial fan group, the Ultras White Knights.
The hosts almost took an early lead when Hodoud defender Mahmoud Alaa turned Kamar's cross goalwards, only for keeper Ahmed Saad to palm the ball out for corner.
Another chance for Zamalek saw a fine team move end up with a long-range strike from Emam which went narrowly wide after 18 minutes.
Emam was called into action again shortly after, this time at the other end of the pitch, when he cleared El-Sayed Hassan's header off the line following a corner for the visitors.
But it was the 30th minute which saw lone striker Kamar bag his long-awaited goal, when he pounced on an ill-fated backpass from Hodoud defender Alaa to go clear on goal and dink the ball above the keeper into the net.
The second half was a dour affair that barely witnessed any goal-scoring chances, with Emam's goal being the only highlight.
Holding midfielder Ibrahim Salah was the unlikely provider, when he played in the diminutive Emam with an incisive through pass to go clear on goal and find the net at the back post.
With Hodoud hardly proving capable of mounting a comeback, Zamalek continued bossing possession as they overtook their opponents on top.
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