Awad Fakhoury gives Pyramids half-time lead against Ghazl El Mahalla

Pyramids took a 1-0 lead over Ghazl El Mahalla in their Egyptian League opening match after Awad Fakhoury converted a cut-back from Mohamed Chibi.

Fakhoury finished with his right foot from inside the penalty area after Chibi headed the ball across from the right. His effort found the right-hand side of the net to put Pyramids ahead.

Ghazl El Mahalla had threatened before the interval, with Abdo Yehia delivering a cross from the right which Hazem El Askary met with a header. The attempt, however, went wide of the left post.

Kibo Saeedi also tried his luck from outside the area, but his shot went well wide of the goal. Saeedi had earlier won a free-kick for Ghazl El Mahalla on the edge of the penalty area, directly in front of goal, after being fouled. Yehia took the set-piece but sent his shot over the crossbar.

The home side continued to look for openings through set-pieces. Abdel Rahman Osama Shika crossed from a left-sided corner and Ahmed Hamed Shosha directed a header at goal, but it went straight into the hands of Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy.

Yehia was shown a yellow card after a strong challenge on Pyramids defender Karim Hafez. Another Ghazl El Mahalla free-kick, awarded after Yehia was fouled on the right side of the attacking half, was delivered into the box by Shika before the Pyramids defence cleared it out for a throw-in.

Pyramids gradually increased the pressure as they searched for the opening goal. Their players appealed for a penalty during one attack, but the referee waved play on.

Youssef Obama came close to scoring when he shot from inside the area with the goal unguarded, although his effort went just wide of the left post. Pyramids also created danger from corners taken by Mohamed Chibi. One delivery was met by Ahmed Samy, whose header cleared the crossbar, while another was dealt with by the Ghazl El Mahalla defence.

Mahmoud Abdel Hafiz Zlaka was caught offside for Pyramids after moving beyond the Ghazl El Mahalla defensive line.

The match was initially closely contested in midfield, with neither side creating a clear chance during the opening stages. After 15 minutes, the score remained 0-0, while the corner count stood at one for Ghazl El Mahalla and none for Pyramids.

The game was briefly stopped for the players to take on fluids and catch their breath before play resumed. Pyramids were awarded a free-kick in their defensive half after Chibi was fouled, while a cross from Ghazl El Mahalla’s Fares Nashat was cleared away from danger.

The referee added three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half. Ghazl El Mahalla also won a late corner, and another cross from the right was headed by El Askary but ended wide.

Pyramids held their advantage at the break, with the corner count recorded as one for Ghazl El Mahalla and two for Pyramids.