Pyramids FC gave their fans reason to cheer after securing a dramatic first victory of the Egyptian Premier League season with a late strike against Ismaily.
The game at home was tense and closely fought, with Ismaily defending stubbornly for most of the night. Pyramids kept pushing but found no way through until the 83rd minute, when Marwan Hamdi rose highest to meet a cross and powered a header past goalkeeper Abdullah Gamal. The roar from the stands showed just how much the goal meant.
The match had its share of drama. Burkina Faso’s Eric Traore of Ismaily was forced off with injury in the 62nd minute. Pyramids’ Blati Toure saw red in the 86th minute, and Ismaily’s Mohamed Ihab followed him for an early shower in stoppage time. Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic of Pyramids was also expelled after protesting referee decisions.
The win lifts Pyramids to 4 points following their opening draw with Wadi Degla, while Ismaily stay on a single point in fifteenth place.
