A goal in each half by Hassan Gomaa and Samuel Ocran gave the coastal side a deserved victory as Shikabala, who looked way off his form, scored his 10th goal of the season for the visitors.

The defeat leaves the title race wide open as Zamalek freeze at 40 points, four more than Ahli who will host bottom club Ittihad on Thursday.

On the other hand, the three points boosted Gouna’s bid against relegation, having reached their 22nd point, five off the bottom three.

The fiery weather in Hurghada was coupled by more pre-match heat as Zamalek’s Ibrahim Hassan has been involved in a war of words with Gouna boss Anwar Salama over the latter’s insistence on a foreign ref.

The FA announced late on Monday that Ugandan Ali Kalyango will be in charge of the week 20 match, upon the request of the home side.

Gomaa masterpiece

Egypt U-20 duo Omar Gaber and Mohamed Ibrahim returned to Zamalek’s starting eleven immediately as Amr Zaki made the bench for the first time this year.

The home side were awarded a 13th minute freekick after Ghanaian Ocran brilliantly took on three Zamalek players before being fouled by Gaber near the box.

Left-back Gomaa stepped in to send the ball into the net with a magnificent strike, leaving Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed with no chance of even touching the lobbing ball.

Zamalek took a stranglehold on the game after their trailing and were unlucky not to level the scoring ten minutes later when Hassan Mostafa saw his effort ricochet off the right post in agony.

Shikabala had two chances to show his class with close-range freekicks, but the Zamalek wizard uncharacteristically fired the ball straight into the wall on both occasions.

Ten minutes before the break, Zaki was called on to replace Ibrahim and partner Ahmed Gaafar upfront, making his first league appearance since October.

Shika equalizes, but Ocran settles it

Zamalek remained in charge after the break and Zaki looked rusty with his first sight on goal as he failed to bundle in from point blank, giving Mohamed Abdul-Monsef enough time to jump for the ball.

Hossam Hassan made another attacking substitution, taking off midfielder Mostafa for winger Hazem Emam, who played a pivotal role in the equalizer.

The livewire winger darted through two opposition defenders before finding Shikabala with an incisive cut-back and the latter slotted home with a rare right-footed finish from 12 yards.

Both teams opened up looking for the winner and Zamalek came closer with two long-rage efforts from Gaber.

However, set piece specialist Gomaa whipped in a pinpoint cross to Ocran, who easily headed in past Abdul-Wahed nine minutes from time.