Melacca Al Ahly SC and Zamalek SC shared the spoils 2-2 in Egypt’s Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening in a spectacular Cairo derby that was billed for. This match was awaited by all the football spectators in Egypt, and both teams were attacking well but defensively, too. The effect of the day’s outcome is that the battle for the Egyptian Premier League title remains wide open as the two Cairo/Super clubs remain in the hunt for the title.

The game began at a fast pace, with Ahly securing a heading from an organized attack after just ten minutes, and that came off the boot of their star player, Sherif. The Red Devils’ forward exploited a great pass from the midfield by Amr El Solia and used the space appropriately, and then he put the ball into an empty Zamalek net. And that level was reached when The White Knights replied with a vengeance within the half-an-hour mark; the Moroccan international Achraf Benchmark superbly scored for the team.

And as the first half advanced both teams continued to fashion opportunities with the post sparing Zamalek on two occasions. Ahly’s Percy Tau and Hussein El Shahat both had their attempts ended up with hitting the woodwork to the disappointment of the Red Devils fans. Both teams entered the half ahead and things were to get even more intense during the second half.

Zamalek, however, started the second period stronger and was awarded a penalty when Zizo scored an individual stunning strike in the 58th minute. The new Egyptian chanted was able to receive a through ball on the right side of the pitch and, in a flash, moved into the box and placed the ball to the far corner, out of reach of Ahly’s goalie, Mohamed El Shenawy. The mention of the goal seems to have excited the Zamalek supporters; however, the excitement was short-lived.

And into the last fifteen minutes, AHLY South African forward Percy Tau is more of a claim to a world-class footballer as he exhibits his skills by faking past the Zamalek defenders only to be fouled in the penalty box. The referee, without any doubt, signaled for a penalty, and Ali Maaloul did it neatly to get the equalizer for the teams. There was a lot of tension in the closing stages of the two teams as each strived to score the last goal, but tight defense denied any side the chance, and the match ended goalless.

The outcome of the match put Ahly and Zamalek at par on the number of points for the Egyptian premier league, but the Red devils are tied in the first place by goal difference. Both managers, Pitso Mosimane of Ahly and Patrice Carteron of Zamalek stated that their teams played well but there is still much more they want to get in the next matches of the season.

The Cairo derby for the third time in succession emphatically justified why the fixture is one of the most local derbies in the globe. Enthusiasm exhibited by players and fans only proved the significance of the fixture in pre-halal emotion Egyptian players. As the league goes to the final and deciding matches whoever will be consistent will clinch the title, and these two giants will be expected to be on their best shows.