Zamalek, blighted by poor results and administrative instability, eased their crisis with a 3-1 comeback victory over promoted Smouha in the Egyptian Premier League on Friday. The Cairo side won their second game in five league matches after overcoming Smouha away from home in their first ever meeting with the Alexandria-based club. Former Ahli striker Ahmed Belal gave Smouha the lead on 19 minutes after making the most of a blunder from Zamalek's central defender Hani Saied, who deputizes for the injured Amr Al-Safti. Saied made amends three minutes later to level the score with a free kick from the edge of the area. Qatari attacking midfielder Hussein Yasser scored his first goal of the season shortly after the restart to put Zamalek in front before Mahmoud Fathallah wrapped up the win with a late free kick. Zamalek moved into seventh place in the league table with eight points while Smouna remained second from bottom on two points. The White Knights labored to a much-needed and timely victory that came two days after a court ruling disbanded the club's board of directors after controversial lawyer Mortada Mansour won an appeal against the validity of last year's elections. Mansour, who is yet to disclose whether he would stand for the upcoming elections, attended the game at Alexandria Stadium. Incumbent chairman Mamdouh Abbas, who is likely to leave his post in the next few days, was also present amid uncertainty over Zamalek's future. Zamalek forward Shikabala could not impress and was replaced with 12 minutes remaining.
Shikabala was not at his best He called on the fans to cheer Abbas while on his way to the dugout and TV cameras caught him making a shushing gesture to Mansour, who heavily criticized him recently. Defensive Lapses Smouha had the better of the opening exchanges, taking advantage of Zamalek's recurring defensive lapses. The hosts' Ghanaian striker Samuel Affum almost opened the scoring on 16 minutes but he fired wide with the goal at his mercy after some good work from Belal down the right flank. But he atoned for his wasted effort three minutes later to set up 30-year-old striker Belal for Smouha's opener. He superbly tricked Hani Saied inside the area before laying off the ball to Belal for an easy tap in after Zamalek keeper Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed, who started the game instead of Essam Al-Hadari, rushed out. Saied restored parity in the 22nd minute when his right-footed free kick, which appeared harmless, sailed over the wall and past Smouha's helpless keeper Wael Khalifa. Yasser, who was involved in a dispute with Zamalek's board recently after asking for an improved contract, added the second five minutes after the interval. He collected a neat pass from left-back Mohamed Abdul-Shafi inside the area and sent a delicate low shot home from a tight angle. Fathallah, Saied's partner in the heart of Zamalek's defense, made sure of victory when his free kick went through the poorly-organized wall and into the bottom corner of the net seven minutes from time.
