Bencharki Strikes On Debut As Ahly And Zamalek Share Cairo Derby Spoils
Achraf Bencharki made an immediate impact on his Al Ahly debut, scoring against his former club Zamalek in the highly anticipated Cairo derby.
The January signing came off the bench in the 60th minute and needed just 12 minutes to make an impact, rising high to head in a pinpoint cross from fellow new signing Nejc Gradisar. However, his goal was not enough to secure victory as. Zamalek responded six minutes from full time, with Bentayg finishing from close range after Omar Gaber's low delivery into the box to ensure a 1-1 draw. The result keeps Al Ahly at the top of the Egyptian Premier League table with 33 points, level with Pyramids FC, who have a game in hand. Zamalek remain in third place with 28 points from 15 matches, keeping their title hopes alive.
The Red Devils started the match on the front foot, dominating possession and creating early chances. Emam Ashour came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, hitting the crossbar before sending another effort over. However, Zamaleks well-organized defense limited opportunities for the Red Devils. Zamalek, meanwhile, grew into the game and looked dangerous on set-pieces but struggled to test Ahly keeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
The second half saw a more open contest, with the White Knights Dunga forcing a strong save from El Shenawy before Bencharki made his moment count, silencing his former team's fans with a clinical header in the 72nd minute. Zamalek pushed forward in search of an equalizer, with Zizo narrowly missing a header. Their persistence paid off in the 84th minute when Bentayg reacted quickest at the goal line to convert Gaber's cross, clinching a crucial point for the White Knights. Al Ahly manager Marcel Koller introduced late substitutions in an attempt to reclaim the lead, but Ashour's deflected effort in stoppage time was as close as they came. The Cairo giants were forced to settle for a draw, keeping the title race wide open. The post Bencharki Strikes on Debut as Ahly and Zamalek Share Cairo Derby Spoils appeared first on KingFut .