Hosni struck home after six minutes to score his first goal of the season and give Manuel Jose’s side a vital win at Cairo Stadium.

The defending champions regain second place on 36 points, closing the gap with leaders Zamalek to four. Gouna remain 12th in 19 points, just two off the relegation zone.

Early goal and formation change

Jose started with an uncommon 4-5-1 formation, playing Hossam Ghaly and Ahmed Al-Sayed at the heart of defense and Sherif Abdul-Fadil at right back.

Youngster Ahmed Nabil ‘Manga’ was handed his first start in midfield, while Hosni played as a lone striker upfront.

Ahli piled on the pressure early on and Hosni came close to breaking the deadlock after five minutes but his close-range effort was denied by Mohamed Abdul-Monsef.

Algerian starlet Sayoud should have scored his maiden goal on the rebound, but shockingly missed in front of an empty net.

However, Sayoud was quick to make amends for his glaring miss a minute later, when he sent Hosni through with an exquisite pass that led to the goal.

Hosni was a bit sluggish with his first touch but had all the time in the world to hit the net with an unremarkable finish from 18 yards.

The 29-year-old striker could have netted a first-half hat-trick afterwards, but was twice denied by the lively Abdul-Monsef.

Gouna had a chance to equalize when Ghaly’s terrible backpass sent Arafa Al-Sayed through, only for goalkeeper Ahmed Adel to come to his teammate’s rescue with a fine block.

The Ahli defense looked far from stable as Gouna kept on threatening Adel’s goal, forcing Jose to revert to the traditional 3-5-2 formation before the break.

At half time, veteran Ahmed Hassan replaced Geddo and the goalscorer Hosni made way for Mauritanian striker Dominique da Silva a few minutes later.

Gouna’s best chance of the second half came from a powerful freekick by Nour Al-Sayed, who was denied by the vigilant Adel.

Ahli hardly worked to add to their one-goal lead, with their best chance of the half coming from a long-range effort by substitute Moataz Eno.

The visitors finished the game with ten men after substitute Mohamed Al-Zayat, who was already booked, fouled a through-on-goal Dominique late in the game.