A Draw at Home

Al Ahly youngsters put on a superb display in a 1-1 draw against Al Mokawloon Al Arab on Friday in Matchday 3 of the EPL Cup. 

The Red Eagles were full of energy, desire and attacking power, especially in the second half but luck was not on our side in front of the goal. 

We entered the game with two points from the first two matches in the competition and we were looking forward to our first win in the competition. 

We stamped our authority from the beginning with our players were seeking an early breakthrough. 

Within 12 minutes, Mohamed Fakhry’s beautiful header was saved by Hassan Shahin, Al Mokawloon’s goalkeeper, who had a fantastic first half, keeping his net clean. 

We were forced to change two of our experienced players, Mohamed Mahmoud and Hossam Hassan, due to injuries and the captain’s armband was handed over to Ammar Hamdy. 

Mohamed El Maghraby’s late challenge in the box gave the visitors a penalty, which was converted by Mohamed Hamdy Zaky, our former striker, to give Al Mokawloon Al Arab a 1-0 lead.   

We needed just 10 minutes in the second half to equalize the score as Ziad Tarek glanced a header beyond the goalkeeper after meeting a beautiful cross from Mohamed Ashraf. 

Three minutes later, we had the chance to add the second goal when we were granted a penalty but Ammar Hamdy’s shot was saved. 

In the dying minutes of the game, Mohamed Yasser Fawzy, our striker, scored a goal but it was canceled after reviewing VAR, to end the game in a 1-1 draw.