Despite playing with nine men for around 27 minutes, Arab Contractors held title holders Ahli to a goalless draw at home in the Egyptian League on Saturday. Eighteen minutes after the break, Contractors had just nine players on the pitch. Osama Al-Sayed and Mohamed Gamal were sent-off either side of the interval. Despite their numerical advantage, Ahli failed in their attempts to score a valuable winner. The Red Devils themselves finished with ten men as Mohamed Samir received his marching orders one minute from time. The surprising poor start of Ahli, who won the league four successive times prior to this season, leaves them in sixth place on four points. Contractors also have four points but they lie seventh due to their inferior goal difference to Ahli. Abou-Treika Benched Manuel Jose left Ahli's key playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika on the bench. Ahli struggled in the first half without their influential star as their efforts lacked creativity. Forgotten striker Ahmed Belal was given a rare starting berth, filling in for Egypt international Emad Meteb, who joined Ittihad Jeddah on a season-long loan. Ahli dominated possession in the early stages but struggled to prize a way through a disciplined Contractors side. The visitors' first chance came after ten minutes when Flavio Amado's cross-come-shot struck the crossbar. Contractors had the upper hand afterwards, pushing forward in a bid to stun the Red Devils.
Contractors had two players dismissed Their best chance fell to Salah Amin 'Maradona' seven minutes before the break. Al-Sayed collected Sayed Moawad's mis-placed pass on the right before cutting the ball back to Maradona but Amir Abdul-Hamid palmed away his close-range shot. Belal came close to breaking the deadlock few moments later but his long-range shot narrowly missed the target. Nine Men Talented winger Al-Sayed was dismissed just before the break after collecting a second booking for diving. Ahli, with the help of Abou-Treika, who was introduced at halftime, capitalized on their numerical advantage to launch raids on Contractors goal. Mohamed Barakat's volley four minutes after restart was blocked by Contractors keeper Mohamed Al-Akabawi. In the 59th minute, Abou-Treika tried his luck with a low shot but it went just wide of the post. Contractors were dealt further blow when Gamal received his marching orders for a second bookable offense in the 63rd minute. But the hosts battled with nine men on the field to deny Ahli on several occasions. Ahli wasted a host of clear-cut chances, including an effort from Flavio while the goal was gaping, but he blasted it astonishingly wide. Samir also came close to ending Contractors' resistance when he rose unmarked to meet a left-wing cross with a header that went just wide. But contractors held on to claim a precious draw.
