Zamalek moved one win short of a second straight Egyptian Premier League title after defeating a resilient Pharco FC side 1-0 in Alexandria to continue their superb run under veteran coach Jesualdo Ferreira.
Central defender Hossam Abdel-Maguid, one of several young players introduced by Ferreira to fill the gaps left by a transfer ban and the departure of several key players, powered in a header as early as the eighth minute to hand Zamalek a 10th successive win.
Zamalek equaled a club record of most consecutive wins in the premier domestic competition, which they set in the 1987-88 season.
The result was harsh on a brave Pharco side, which only leaked 19 goals so far this season. They came close to equalizing on at least a couple of occasions but Zamalek held on to continue their relentless march towards the title.
Zamalek top the table with 75 points, seven clear of second-placed Pyramids with three matches remaining. The Cairo giants will be crowned champions should they beat Ittihad of Alexandria in Cairo on Tuesday.
Pharco, who are making their top-flight debut, remain eighth in the table with 40 points.
Pharco could have levelled the score on 12 minutes but striker Ahmed Sherif sent a free header over the bar.
Zamalek had the better possession but were uncharacteristically toothless in the final third, with Pharco going very close again in the 65th minute when Mahmoud Hamada drilled just wide after some good work from Sherif.
The visitors finally created a goal-scoring chance 12 minutes from time when substitute Mahmoud Shikabala was released by a deft pass from Zizo, only to see his angled chip narrowly miss the target.
However, the miss did not prove to be costly as Zamalek kept a clean sheet for the seventh time in their past eight games to move within touching distance of another league triumph.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
