Déjà vu?
It was another dramatic win for Zamalek, while archrival Ahly lost to CAF Champions League contender Ismaili in the new premier league season. Eric Asomougha reports
Expectations were high for defending FA Champions Ahly -- newly crowned as Egypt Super Cup Champions -- on the eve of the new football season. But as high as expectations were, so too was the disappointment that came when Ahly fell 2-1 to Ismaili in their first premier league match.
It may have felt much like the start of the 2001/ 2002 season, when Ahly lost their opening premier league match to newly promoted Ghazly Suez 2-0. Ahly floundered that season only to lose the title to Ismaili -- a club in top form at the time.
In the fans' point of view, the experimentation at this stage and the repositioning of players by Portuguese coach Antonio Olivier did not do Ahly any good against the high flying Ismaili team still motivated by their 6-1 victory over visiting Enyimba of Nigeria in the CAF Champions League.
Ismaili got the first goal through a defensive blunder by Ahly. So-called "danger man", Mohamed Mohsen Abu Greisha, was there just on time to take advantage of the error. Ahly responded minutes later with a superb acrobatic kick by Mohamed Shaki to level the score 1-1.
Both teams rallied to take a lead, Ismaili having the upper hand. Just as the match seemed to be ending in draw, Hosni Abed Rabbou shocked both Ahly and the entire gathering of spectators with a long range shot for Ismaili's second goal in the dying seconds of extra time.
The opposite happened at Cairo Stadium, where Zamalek demolished Mahalla 5-0. The scorers were Tarek El-Sayed, Gamal Hamza, Tamer Abdel-Hamid, Sameh Youssef and Abdel-Halim Ali.
Zamalek went ahead to extended its points in week two of the season, beating newly promoted Quanah 3-1 in another dramatic match, where more than half a dozen chances were missed before Bashir El-Tabei cleverly scored a free-kick inside the goalkeeper's box in the 44th minute.
Zamalek scored two more goals through Hazem Emam and Sameh Yusuf, while Quanah managed to pull one back to end the game with a notch more dignity, 3-1.
Zamalek, which along with Ittihad of Alexandria and Masry of Port Said has six points, now sits at the top of the table on goals difference. Sawahel trails with four points, while ENPPI, Ismaili and Baladia have three points each and one game in hand. Tersana, Mansoura and Mahalla have a point each, while Ahly, Kroum, Quanah and Aswan are yet to earn a point.
The second week league for Ahly, Ismaili and Baladia were postponed due to their continental Cup engagements.
With one home and away win, Ittihad seem to be sending serious signals as league contenders this season. They have secured the service of some veterans, including national goalkeeper Nader Sayed, and Waleed Salaheddin to assist Cherno Mensaria of Sierra Leone. Masry of Port Said has employed similar tactics to Ittihad, signing on veterans such as Alaa Ibrahim.
Fans and critics are wondering if this season will serve as a déjà vu for defending champions Ahly.
Week two results:
Mahalla 2:2 Mansoura; Quanah 1/3 Zamalek; Sawahel 2:2 Tersana; Ittihad 3:1 Kroum; Masry 1:0 Aswan; ENPPI / Ismaili on 23/9/03; Ahly / Baladia on 3/11/03
Week three fixtures: 12/9/03 (4:30 PM) Tersana / Mahalla; 12/9/03 (4:30 PM) Baladia / ENPPI; 12/9/ 03 (4:30 PM) Aswan / Ittihad; 12/9/03 (6:00 PM) Mansoura / Zamalek; 12/9/03 (8:00 PM) Kroum / Sawahel; 12/9/03 (8:00 PM) Ismaili / Masry; 12/9/03 (8:00 PM) Ahly / Quanah
