22 - 28 March 2001
Issue No.526
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 22 - 28 March 2001 Issue No.526 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Almost in the bag
Zamalek shortened the distance on its way to the league title. And the closer it gets, Abeer Anwar reports, the bigger the trophy appears
Six more points and it'll all be over -- and the partying in Zamalek will have begun.
Hossam Hassan tries to find some space as a Contractor defender sticks close
photo: Ayman Ibrahim
That's the number of points Zamalek needs to win the league football title that has eluded it for seven years. With five matches remaining, the crown would appear for all intents and purposes to be already in the club's backpocket.
But the team still had some unfinished business to attend to. Like beating the Arab Contractors 3-1, widening the gap between it and second-place Ahli, the defending champions, to seven points.
All four goals were scored in the first half, including a wicked drive by Tareq El-Sayed that raised his league-leading tallies to 12.
The win gave Zamalek, the season's only unbeaten club -- 17 wins and four draws -- 55 points. The Contractors fell to seventh place with 28 points.
The game was the third between the two clubs this year. Apart from the normal home and away fixtures came the by now infamous encounter which was abandoned at half-time after the referee was injured by a stone thrown from the stands. The replay, won by Zamalek, was played without spectators.
In Alexandria, Ahli edged Ittihad 2-1 in a game which lost much of its significance because of Zamalek's virtually unassailable lead. Ahli's Samir Kamouna scored from the spot in the first half only to see Tamer Abdel-Hakim level in the 55th minute. Ali Maher put the match beyond doubt with a close-range header in the 83rd minute.
Misri was defeated for the first time this season, by Mansoura 1-0, but remained in third place with 41 points. Tersana upset Ma'aden 2-1 to boost its chances of remaining in the premier league next season. Both clubs now have 20 points each. Dina Farms, however, is staring relegation in the face after a scoreless draw with Spinning Mahalla. The result left Dina in 12th place with only 13 points. Mahalla's 24 points solidify an expected mid-table finish.
Ismaili, the disappointment of the season, tied 0-0 with Qana, the year's surprise team. Ismaili, a contender for the title in pre-season forecasts, stayed in fourth with 38 points while Qana upped its total to 31.
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