Zamalek 3-5 Al Ahly: Tau’s Red Devils claim Cairo Derby bragging rights
The Bafana Bafana international played 68 minutes as Mosimane’s charges defeated their arch-rivals at Cairo International Stadium
Percy Tau helped Al Ahly maintain their perfect start to the 2021/22 Egyptian Premier League season as they thrashed Zamalek 3-0 on Friday night.
Mohamed Abou Gabal, Ali Maaloul (brace), Mohamed Sherif and Aliou Dieng all scored for the Red Devils as they secured one of their biggest league victories in the history of the Cairo Derby.
Tau made his third consecutive start for the Red Devils having helped his side start the new league campaign with victories over Ismaily and the National Bank of Egypt.
The South Africa international fired Al Ahly’s first shot on target with his tame shot being comfortably saved by goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal, before the Red Devils ran riot against the reigning Egyptian champions.
The deadlock was broken when Abou Gabal netted an own goal as Aliou Dieng’s shot bounced off the back of the Zamalek shot-stopper before hitting the back of the net in the 16th minute.
The White Knights’ defence was rattled by the own-goal and they conceded a penalty when Ali Maaloul was tripped in the box by Zamalek defender Hamza Mathlouthi.
Tunisia international Maaloul, who is Al Ahly’s penalty specialist, stepped up and sent Abou Gabal the wrong way from the spot-kick to hand the visitors the lead in the 20th minute.
Having been rewarded with a starting berth by coach Pitso Mosimane after coming off the bench to score against the National Bank of Egypt last weekend, Mohamed Sherif also put his name on the score sheet.
This was after some great play by Amr El-Sulaya, who whipped in a superb cross which was turned home Sheriff to make it 3-0 to Al Ahly in the 30th minute with the Zamalek defence caught ball-watching.
Mosimane would have been pleased with his charges’ first-half showing as his side was leading 3-0 at the half-time break after dominating the first-half, but Tau had made little impact on the game.
Zamalek started the second-half strongly with Mosimane’s counterpart Patrice Carteron having introduced Mostafa Fathi, who made an instant impact as the winger beat keeper Mohamed El Shenawy to make it 3-1 in the 51st minute.
However, the Red Devils responded with a goal two minutes later to restore their three-goal advantage as Dieng scored with a curling shot to make make it 4-1 to Al Ahly with Mohamed Magdi Kafsha providing the assist.
Mosimane’s charges were hungry for goals on the night as they were awarded a penalty after El Sulaya was fouled in the box by Mathlouthi in the 65th minute and Maaloul scored from the spot-kick to make it 5-1.
Tau was then replaced by Mozambican winger Luis Miquissone with 22 minutes left on the clock, while Hussein El-Shahat replaced Magdi Afsha as Mosimane refreshed his attack.
The visitors then took their feet off the pedal and they allowed the White Knights to attack and the hosts were awarded a penalty which was converted by Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed to reduce the deficit to 5-2 with 10 minutes left.
Achraf Bencharki then made it 5-3 when he found the bottom corner on the half-volley in the 90th minute after a superb lay-off from Mohamed Obama with Al Ahly’s defence exposed.
Ultimately, the match ended with that score in favour of Al Ahly, who returned to the top of the league standings and they now will face Al Mokawloon on November 19 after the Fifa international break
Source: Source: Goal
