Zamalek edge Al Ittihad to stay top of Egyptian Premier League

Zamalek pulled off a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Al Ittihad on Friday, grinding out a result that keeps them clear at the top of the Egyptian Premier League table.

The win, secured in matchday 21, lifted Zamalek to 43 points, three ahead of closest chasers Pyramids and Al Ahly, who both sit on 40 points.

The only goal of the game came early, after a superb cross from Ahmed Fattouh picked out Nasser Mansi in the box. The striker rose brilliantly and powered a header past goalkeeper Mahmoud Gennesh in the 11th minute, giving Zamalek the perfect start. From there, however, the match turned increasingly tense.

Referee Mahmoud Wafaa showed two red cards, both confirmed after VAR reviews. Al Ittihad’s Karim El Deeb was sent off in the 32nd minute for a reckless challenge on Zamalek star Juan Pizzaro, before Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Shehata also saw red for a wild tackle later in the game.

Goalkeeper Al Mahdy Soliman was the standout performer, producing several crucial saves, including a vital one-on-one stop against Al Ahly loanee Mohamed Magdy Afsha. His heroics not only preserved the narrow lead but also earned him the Man of the Match award, helping Zamalek maintain their grip on first place.
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