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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 26 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2000 Issue No. 505 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 26 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2000 Issue No. 505
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Palestine International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Trying to buy a championship
By Alaa Shahine
Although still early in the league season, Zamalek's transactions are already paying off handsomely. The club edged Dina 2-1, remaining the only unbeaten team with five straight victories. Walid Adel-Latif and Hossam Hassan, two of Zamalek's major off-season ac-uisitions, were the goal-getters. Ab-el-Latif opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a long-range free kick, while Hassan took advantage of some shoddy marking in the penalty area early in the second. A direct kick in the dying seconds by Ahmed Abdullah against his former club Zamalek brought Dina within range of a tie but the goal was a question of too little too late.
Ali Maher, scorer of Ahli's second goal, eludes a Tersana tackle in mid-field
photo: Salah Ibrahim
The victory kept Zamalek's perfect record intact and the club atop the table with 15 points. Dina, on four points, languishes near the bottom.
On the same day at Cairo Stadium, Ahli thrashed Tersana 6-0, the widest margin of victory by any team this season. The win helped Ahli remain hot on Zamalek's heels with 13 points, while Tersana, newly-promoted to the premiere league, is fighting to stay afloat, buoyed by just four points. The victory also marked the debut of Ahli's new German coach, Hans Dorner, who replaced his sacked compatriot Reiner Tsobil.
The match was marked by a shocking act of defiance by Tersana goalkeeper Gharib Hafez who refused to be substituted following miscues on his part which allowed the first two goals. It was only after Sayed Abdel-Hafiz netted the third with a flying header that Hafiz finally made way and left the pitch, escorted by police.
The changing of the guard failed to stem the Ahli tide. Abdel-Hafiz added two more goals in the second half for a hat-trick and Hisham Hanafi added to Tersana's miserable night with goal number six.
Other action in the week saw Kouroum draw 1-1 with Mansura in Alexandria, Qanah come from two goals down to level 2-2 with Ittihad and Mehalla and Misri end up scoreless. Sohag against Ismaili was rescheduled for security reasons because of People's Assembly elections in Sohag.
Ismaili could use the rest after its stunning 4-1 loss to Maadin. The defending Cup champions and almost certain finalists in the African Federation Cup were picked apart by a surprisingly adept Maadin squad which makes up for little talent with lots of heart. Reportedly, seven of Ismaili's top players, including top scorer John Otaka, refused to attend practice after being fined LE370 each for what management described as a desultory and unacceptable 3-3 performance against Tersana.
Five games into the league 81 goals have been scored with Ahli accounting for 12. Sohag Railways has been unable to find the net thus far. They could use the services of the league's top scorer, Maadin striker Ashraf Mamdouh, who has four goals, three against Ismaili.
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