This archive report was first published on 23 August 2020.
Published on August 23, 2020, Zamalek claimed a significant victory over their bitter rivals Al Ahly in the Cairo Derby of the Egyptian Premier League.
On Saturday night, a clinical White Knights side capitalized on devastating counterattacks to punish a wasteful Ahly side, handing them their first defeat of the season.
Achraf Bencharki, the in-form Moroccan winger, once again stole the show, orchestrating Zamalek's moves, creating an early goal, and contributing to a stoppage-time third, which sealed the match in favor of Zamalek.
After surviving early Ahly pressure, Zamalek took the lead in the 13th minute when winger Ahmed Zizo fired into an empty net following brilliant individual work from Bencharki on the left.
However, Ahly's central defender Yasser Ibrahim equalized two minutes past the hour mark, finding the net following a goal-mouth scramble.
But Bencharki's influence continued, and striker Mostafa Mohamed restored Zamalek's advantage in superb fashion, chesting a cross from Hazem Emam despite being closely marked by Ibrahim, swiveling, and hitting an unstoppable volley into the bottom corner.
Just as Ahly appeared close to leveling the score, youngster Osama Faisal slotted home into an empty net three minutes into the additional time, securing the win for Zamalek.
Although Zamalek only managed to close the gap on leaders Ahly to 14 points, they will still be content to record a rare league victory over their perennial rivals, only their third in the last 15 years in the domestic competition.
