Video: Shikabala-less Zamalek held by Production

Without their pacey forward Shikabala, Zamalek lacked the necessary cutting-edge while facing Military Production, who held the Whites to a goalless draw in the Egyptian Premier League on Friday.

كتب : وكالات

الجمعة، 21 يناير 2011 - 21:07
Without their pacey forward Shikabala, Zamalek lacked the necessary cutting-edge while facing Military Production, who held the Whites to a goalless draw in the Egyptian Premier League on Friday.

Shika, the current league top scorer with a nine-goal tally, took no part in the game as he was serving a one-match ban for misconduct.

The 24-year-old watched the match from the stands alongside Mido, who is understood to be close to joining Zamalek.

Zamalek coach Hossam Hassan deployed a strike partnership consisting of Abou Kone and Mohamed Amine Aoudia but they weren't potent enough to snatch a goal.

Gaafar replaced Kone early in the second half but his introduction didn't add much to the team's firepower.

On the other hand, Production kept defending tightly, yet without organization, throughout the 90 minutes.

Leaders Zamalek are now on 32 points, three ahead of closest rivals Ismaili who beat Harras Hodoud 3-2 earlier in the day.

Ahli will close to within four points of their arch-rivals Zamalek should they beat MCDR on Saturday.

Zamalek and Production finished the match with ten men each, after the referee sent off Kwabena Yaro and Mohamed Ibrahim on 72 and 90 minutes respectively.

Superiority Without Goals

Zamalek were clearly superior but failed to translate their dominance into goals.

Hussein Yasser tried his luck from outside the area more than once, almost succeeded twice early in the game.

Mohamed Abdul-Shafi also fired a powerful shot on 24 minutes from distance but goalie Nader Saad parried it away.

Kone was the closest to scoring when the goal was at his mercy but his close-range drive went agonizingly over the crossbar.

More Wasted Chances

Zamalek wasted a host of scoring chances after the break, with substitute Ibrahim exceling before receiving his marching orders.

On 51 minutes, he sent a cross to release Algerian hitman Aoudia, whose tame effort was no threat.

Hassan Mostafa also squandered another opportunity when he gathered a loose ball in the six-yard box, but wasn't fast enough to score.

Production's Yaro was dismissed for two bookable offences within seconds.

Ibrahim was red carded for a naive theatrical dive in the area.