Al Ahly overpower Zamalek 3-0 to complete the double

Al Ahly beat Zamalek 3-0 in the fourth round of the final phase of the Egyptian Premier League at Cairo International Stadium on Friday to complete a league double over their rivals.

The Red Eagles dominated possession from the outset and took the lead in the 18th minute, when Taher Mohamed Taher delivered a precise assist from outside the area for Moroccan forward Achraf Bencharki to head home.

Al Ahly continued to press and should have doubled their lead six minutes later, but Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan saw his effort toward an empty net blocked by defender Hossam Abdel-Maguid and gathered by the goalkeeper.

The second goal came in the 32nd minute, with Bencharki turning provider as he set up Hussein El Shahat, who went one-on-one with goalkeeper El Mahdi Soliman and finished calmly.

Marwan Attia then tested Soliman from long range three minutes later, but the Zamalek goalkeeper denied him.

Zamalek had a chance to pull one back in the 55th minute after being awarded a penalty, but Hossam Abdel-Maguid’s effort was saved by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier.

Al Ahly were awarded a penalty of their own 10 minutes later after Mohamed Shehata handled the ball inside the area, but Trezeguet failed to convert.

Bencharki sealed the win late on, finishing a well-worked move after being set up by Emam Ashour to make it 3-0.

Al Ahly move to 47 points with two games remaining.

They face Enppi on Tuesday before taking on Al Masry on the final matchday in mid-May.

Al Ahly had also beaten Zamalek 2-0 in their first league meeting last September and claimed the Egyptian Super Cup with a 2-1 victory in November.