Cairo - Ahli failed to beat Harras Hodoud for the third time this season after being held to a 1-1 draw by the struggling side in the Egyptian Premier League on Thursday. Egypt forward Ahmed Eid gave Hodoud the lead early in the game but Emad Meteb leveled the score seven minutes after the restart. Ahli had the upper hand in the second half but could not notch a decisive winner although the referee indicated eight minutes of injury time. Hodoud overcame Ahli to win the Super Cup last summer and held them to a 1-1 draw in Cairo in the reverse league fixture in August last year. Holders Ahli, who eye a sixth successive league crown, are still on top of the table with 38 points but Ismaili could close to within four points of them if they beat Petrojet later in the day. Hodoud, who won the Egyptian Cup last season but suffered a dip in form this term, climbed out of the relegation zone. They have 19 points, one ahead of third-bottom Gouna.
