Al Ittihad Alexandria held by Abu Qir Fertilizers at half-time in Egyptian League

Al Ittihad Alexandria and Abu Qir Fertilizers were locked in a goalless draw at half-time in their Egyptian Premier League week-three meeting, with both goalkeepers making important saves in an evenly contested opening period.

Abu Qir Fertilizers goalkeeper Mahmoud Genesh denied Al Ittihad Alexandria forward Joseph Arumala twice. He first kept out a shot from inside the penalty area before producing another strong save to stop Arumala’s headed effort.

At the other end, Al Ittihad Alexandria goalkeeper Sobhi Soliman also had to be alert. He collected a close-range attempt from Abu Qir Fertilizers’ Omar Ibrahim, then made an excellent save to turn another Ibrahim effort from outside the penalty area behind for a corner.

The match began with Al Ittihad Alexandria applying pressure from set-pieces. Pascal Fery took a corner from the left with a short pass before a subsequent cross was cleared by the Abu Qir Fertilizers defence. Khaled Massad then delivered from the right, but the ball struck a defender and went behind for another corner.

Momen Awad took the next corner from the right, sending a cross into the area which Abu Qir Fertilizers managed to clear away from danger.

Despite Al Ittihad Alexandria enjoying more possession, the visitors were unable to create a clear opening during the early stages. Their players exchanged a succession of passes without seriously testing Genesh, while Abu Qir Fertilizers looked to threaten through Ibrahim.

The first quarter of an hour passed without a goal. Ibrahim had already gone close for Abu Qir Fertilizers with a shot from inside the area that drifted just wide of the right-hand post.

Play was briefly stopped while Abu Qir Fertilizers player Mahmoud Abu Gouda received treatment. The game resumed after the interruption, with Al Ittihad Alexandria continuing in possession.

A further break was taken for the players to drink and recover before the closing stages of the half. Al Ittihad Alexandria’s Hossam Hassan saw a shot from inside the penalty area blocked by the defence.

After 30 minutes, the score remained 0-0. The corner count at that stage stood at three for Al Ittihad Alexandria and none for Abu Qir Fertilizers.

Abu Qir Fertilizers continued to test Soliman from distance. Ibrahim’s latest attempt was pushed away impressively by the Al Ittihad Alexandria goalkeeper, who turned it out for a corner. Abu Qir Fertilizers then won a throw-in on the left in the attacking half and later received a free-kick in the defensive half after Arumala was penalised for a foul.

Mohamed Alaa was shown a yellow card for a strong challenge in midfield as the half became increasingly physical.

The referee added three minutes of stoppage time. Abu Qir Fertilizers continued to search for an opening, but Arumala’s late effort from inside the area was again kept out by Genesh, ensuring the teams went into the interval level. Possession was recorded at 55% for Al Ittihad Alexandria and 45% for Abu Qir Fertilizers.