Cairo giants Zamalek returned to winning ways with a
commanding 3-0 victory over Enppi in the Egyptian Premier League’s 17th
matchday at Arab Contractors Stadium on Tuesday, handing Portuguese coach Jose
Pesiero his first win.
Zamalek’s victory was fueled by a second-half brace
from midfielder Abdallah El-Said and a clinical finish from striker Nasser
Mansi.
The win marked a crucial turnaround for manager José
Peseiro, whose side had failed to secure a victory since his appointment on 14
February, drawing 1-1 against Petrojet, Ahly,
and ZED
FC in succession.
Zamalek pressed from the opening whistle, eager to
score early and ease pressure on their players, but they failed to create any
genuine opportunities.
Three minutes into the first half, striker Nasser
Mansi nearly broke the deadlock when he connected with Omar Gaber’s precise
pass from the right wing, firing a right?footed shot from close range that was
saved by Enppi’s goalkeeper Abdel-Rahman Samir.
The White Knights controlled much of the game,
dominating Enppi in their own half, while the Petroleum side relied on rapid
counter-attacks that were consistently rebuffed by Zamalek’s defence.
In the 28th minute, Zamalek’s Portuguese coach, Jose
Peseiro, was forced to make a change after winter signing Tunisian winger Ahmed
Jafeli suffered a muscular injury, introducing Mohmed Hamdi as his replacement.
Despite sustained pressure, Zamalek failed to breach
Enppi’s resolute defense before halftime. The visitors grew into the game as
the half wore on, ensuring the teams entered the break goalless.
Peseiro reshuffled at halftime, introducing veteran
playmaker Abdallah El-Said in place of defender Hossam Abdel-Maguid to inject
creativity into midfield, which proved inspired.
Five minutes after the restart, Zamalek were awarded a
penalty following a VAR-confirmed handball by Enppi defender Khaled Ahmed.
El-Said stepped up calmly, slotting a low right-footed
finish into the bottom corner to ignite the scoreboard in the 53rd minute.
Mansi doubled the lead in the 66th minute, rising
brilliantly to head home Moroccan fullback Mahmoud Bentayg’s looping cross from
the left flank.
Zamalek continued to surge forward, with El-Said
orchestrating attacks, but Enppi’s defense held firm until stoppage time.
Four minutes into injury time, the 39-year-old maestro
sealed his brace, and the victory, firing a first-time strike into the roof of
the net after latching onto substitute Seif Gaafar’s cutback from the left.
The result solidifies Zamalek’s hold on third place
with 32 points, seven behind leaders Pyramids FC and four adrift of arch-rivals
Ahly, though both rivals have a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Enppi remain rooted in the relegation zone
at 17th with just 12 points.
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