Hossam Ashraf puts Zamalek ahead against Petrojet in Egyptian Premier League

Hossam Ashraf scored the opening goal as Zamalek took the lead against Petrojet in their Egyptian Premier League match during week three.

The forward headed home an accurate cross from Chico Banza, who delivered from the left into the penalty area. Ashraf’s effort flew into the far left corner of the net to give Zamalek the advantage.

The goal came after Zamalek had worked the ball through a series of short passes in midfield and continued to look for a way through Petrojet’s defensive line. Banza had already threatened from the left, moving into the penalty area before sending a low shot towards goal that was saved by Petrojet goalkeeper Omar Salah.

Petrojet had created several opportunities of their own before falling behind. Ahmed Behbeh struck the crossbar with a powerful effort from inside the area, while Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh produced a vital clearance off the line to deny Mohamed Ibrahim Dodo.

The chance followed a mistake by Zamalek goalkeeper Mehdi Soliman, who failed to hold Dodo’s shot from inside the penalty area. The ball appeared destined for the net before El-Wensh intervened.

Mehdi Soliman later recovered to make an excellent save from Behbeh, stopping the Petrojet player’s effort from close range and preventing what looked to be a certain goal.

Petrojet began the game with attacking intent and applied pressure high up the pitch, forcing Zamalek to attempt to play out from the defensive area. Their efforts also brought chances for Mustafa El Badry and Badr Moussa.

El Badry’s powerful shot from outside the penalty area went over the crossbar without troubling the goalkeeper. Moussa then fired narrowly wide of the left post from the edge of the box.

Petrojet also threatened from set pieces. Moussa delivered a right-wing corner towards the near post, but Zamalek’s defence cleared the danger. From a corner on the opposite side, Dodo sent the ball towards the far post, where Barakat Hegazi’s header struck a defender and went behind for another corner.

Omar Diaa tested Mehdi Soliman with a cross from the right, but the Zamalek goalkeeper collected it safely. Diaa also won a free-kick in midfield after being brought down by Adam Kaied.

Zamalek’s first-half possession stood at 57%, compared with Petrojet’s 43%. The shot count was close, with Zamalek recording four attempts and Petrojet five.

The match included a brief water break, while the referee added three minutes at the end of the second half. There were bookings for a Zamalek player and a Petrojet player, the latter for a challenge on Chico Banza. Banza was also penalised for a foul and a handball in Zamalek’s defensive half, while Hossam Ashraf was penalised for handball in Petrojet’s defensive area.

Earlier, Ahmed Rabie won a free-kick for Zamalek in midfield, and Rabie was involved in another foul during the opening exchanges. Petrojet’s Ahmed Behbeh was caught offside because of his positioning.

Zamalek made their first substitution after the interval, with the second half then getting under way. The match had been goalless after 15 minutes and remained level after half an hour, before Ashraf’s header eventually broke the deadlock.

The opening stages also saw attempts from Mohamed Shehata, whose shot from outside the area was blocked, while his cross from the right found Adam Kaied in the middle of the box. Kaied’s header, however, lacked accuracy and was comfortably saved.

Among the other players involved in the match were Mohamed El Sayed, Adham Hamed and Mahmoud Bentayg, who delivered Zamalek’s corner from the right before Petrojet’s defence cleared from the far post.