15 - 21 February 2001
Issue No.521
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 15 - 21 February 2001 Issue No.521 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Expectations dashed
Despite missing five key players, last season's runners-up, Ismaili, beat Sohag Railways 3-1 in Ismailia. The win left the canal team, picked by experts in the pre-season to make a serious run for the title, lounging in a disappointing fourth place with 30 points, two behind third-placed Misri. Sohag maintained its distant 13th place berth with only nine points.
Ahli midfielder Hani Khashaba tries to avoid a Tersana tackle
Ismaili, which lost just one game in the second half of last season's league en route to a dramatic second-place finish, had little trouble with newly-promoted Sohag. El Nahas, receiving a well-curved Hamam Ibrahim cross, rose high to head the ball home to put his team ahead. Hamam Ibrahim doubled the lead when he headed a pinpoint cross from Islam El-Shatter. Ismaili secured its three points when Ibrahim sent Mohamed Barakat clear with a perfect pass. Sohag's lone goal came from a last-minute header by striker Emad Ayoub.
"I'm glad we won but I'm not satisfied with the performance," Ismaili coach Mohsen Saleh said. "I ask the fans to be patient because we are facing big problems," he added, pointing to the absence of Nigerian John Otaka, Guinean Mamadu Bekita, Reda Seka, Mohamed Hommos and Saad Abdel-Baqi, all sitting out because of injuries.
The Arab Contractors leapt four places to sixth place when it defeated giant-killers Maadin 3-1 in Cairo. Ali Ashour scored the go-ahead goal for the hosts after nine minutes from a penalty before Mahmoud Bayoumi levelled in the 40th minute.
After the break, an own goal by Maadin defender Amr Abdou put the hosts ahead again in the 57th minute. Eight minutes later, Haitham Hussein sealed the victory with another spot kick to take his team to 24 points. The result left Maadin in eighth place on 22 points.
Maadin's defeat came just a week after it had beaten Ismaili 1-0 in Ismailia, the second time Maadin had done in Ismaili this season.
Defending champions Ahli edged Tersana 1-0 to keep its hopes alive of winning the crown for an eighth consecutive year. International midfielder Sayed Abdel-Hafeez scored his team's winner in the 32nd minute to give Ahli 44 points, one point behind league leaders Zamalek which has a game in hand. Zamalek's match with Dina Farms was put off due to the club's match with Ghana's Hearts of Oak in the African Super Cup.
The loss left Tersana languishing in 11th place on 15 points.
In other matches, Ittihad wasted a precious opportunity to jump to fourth place after falling badly to Qanah 3-1 in Alexandria. Misri snatched a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Mehalla in an away game. Mansoura continued its reawakening, beating Kouroum 1-0 at home.
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