Ahli maintained their position on top of the league table with 60 points, keeping their deadly battle with Ismaili alive after the Dervishes won at Telecom Egypt.

The arch-rivals share top spot for now to leave it until the league finale next week, with a play-off clash looming.

Flavio's Header

Ahli reinstalled their regular defensive trio as Shadi Mohamed and Wael Gomaa returned from injury to join Ahmed Al-Sayed.

But an unexpected alteration in midfield saw Mohamed Abou-Treika, Gilberto and the unfit Mohamed Barakat start on the bench. Ahmed Belal partnered Flavio upfront.

Conservativeness ruled in most of the first half, which hardly witnessed a shot on target at both ends until Flavio's goal.

In the 20th minute, a fierce tackle by Ahmed Eid on Ahli's Ahmed Ali caused a moment of unrest between both teams' players. The Hodoud forward was eventually booked.

As a cagey first half came close to an end, news of an Ismaili goal in Cairo seemed to have shaken the Red Devils out of their slumbers.

Six minutes from the break, Ahmed Fathi's pinpoint cross reached Flavio's head in the area, and the Angolan did what he does best by dispatching the header past Maturin Kameni.

Hodoud had to take off injured veteran Abdul-Hamid Basiouni at the stroke of half time as Ahmed Salama came in.

Evenly-balanced half

With Flavio's strike separating the two sides, Manuel Jose brought on Barakat for Ahmed Hassan at half time.

Despite Barakat's introduction, Ahli applied a more defensive style as the second half started, with the hosts dictating the game in search for an equalizer.

The pace and skill of wide men Mohamed Mekki and Eid personified Hodoud's threat, but their momentum went down when the latter was taken off.

The temperamental Eid looked susceptible of receiving a second caution and had to make way for Ahmed Mekki. In return, Jose introduced Abou-Treika for Belal.

Ahli gradually controlled things in midfield inside the final quarter, but with no real threat on Kameni's goal.

Jose's men held on to their slender win to claim full points and end Hodoud's seven-match unbeaten run.

Watch the goal