Egypt Cup: Ghazl El Mahalla and Al Ittihad Alexandria remain goalless in Round of 32

Ghazl El Mahalla and Al Ittihad Alexandria were still level at 0-0 after an hour of their Egypt Cup Round of 32 tie, with both sides creating opportunities but neither able to break the deadlock.

Ghazl El Mahalla made the more assertive start, applying pressure in the opening minutes while Al Ittihad Alexandria maintained a well-organised defence. Yحيى زكريا sent a cross from the left into the area, but it was cleared before it could cause danger.

Ghazl El Mahalla won a corner from the right, taken by Yahya Zakaria, although the delivery was headed away by the visiting defence. A further cross from Zakaria then passed across the area without finding a teammate. Al Ittihad also earned a corner, with Khaled Massad’s delivery met by Mahmoud Emad, whose header went wide of the right-hand post.

After 10 minutes the score remained 0-0. Ghazl El Mahalla continued to threaten, but Al Ittihad’s defensive shape restricted their progress. A free-kick was awarded to Ghazl El Mahalla in the defensive half after a foul by John Ebuka, while another followed after Yahya Zakaria was fouled.

Al Ittihad’s Yousri Wahid attempted to play a through ball, but it was overhit and gathered by Ghazl El Mahalla goalkeeper Mohamed Koko. At the other end, Hazem El Askar’s weak header from inside the penalty area was comfortably held by Al Ittihad goalkeeper Sobhi Soliman.

Ahmed Hamdy then tested Koko with a shot from inside the area, but the goalkeeper produced an impressive save to turn it behind for a corner. Ghazl El Mahalla midfielder Mohamed Ashraf fired over from distance, while Ahmed Yasser’s effort from outside the box went narrowly wide of the right post.

Al Ittihad conceded a free-kick in the attacking half after Noor Alaa El Din brought down a Ghazl El Mahalla player. Fares Neshat delivered a cross which was cleared towards the centre of the pitch. Ghazl El Mahalla later won another free-kick after Moaz Abdel Salam was fouled, but Hazem El Askary’s strike was saved by Sobhi Soliman.

Play was briefly stopped when the Al Ittihad goalkeeper required treatment, before the match resumed. The first half entered its final stages with neither side able to score, and the referee added three minutes of stoppage time before the interval.

Ghazl El Mahalla were forced into their first substitution after Abdel Fattah Ashraf Shta was unable to continue following an injury. Play resumed after he received treatment, but further stoppages were required for the same player before the change was made.

In the second half, Ghazl El Mahalla won a free-kick just outside the penalty area after Yahya Zakaria was fouled. Fares Neshat took it, sending his shot over the crossbar.

After 60 minutes, the sides were still tied at 0-0. Ghazl El Mahalla’s Ahmed El Ash cleared Noor Alaa El Din’s effort from inside the penalty area off the goal-line, while Ghazl El Mahalla’s Abdel Rahman Rashdan was shown a yellow card.