Zamalek-target Hassan impresses in Ahly draw with Maqassa

The veteran midfielder, whose contract with Ahly expired after the match amid reports suggesting that he already agreed to join the team’s arch-rivals Zamalek, gave the hosts the lead with a powerful free kick just one minute after the restart. Errors by defender Rami Rabeia and stand-in goalkeeper Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud allowed Maqassa to go in front but the lively Hassan helped Ahly to an equalizer with two minutes remaining. The Egypt skipper won a controversial penalty that was converted by classy playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika, who made his comeback after a lengthy lay-off due to injury, as a second-string Ahly side survived a second league defeat in a festive mood at Cairo Stadium. The Red Devils, who had already clinched a seventh consecutive league title, finished the season with a five-point lead over Zamalek, who defeated El-Entag El-Harby 3-1 earlier on Sunday. Maqassa, who impressed in their maiden season in the top flight, finished sixth in the table on 45 points, two behind fourth-placed Ittihad El-Shorta who qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup. Egyptian Football Association chairman Samir Zaher was supposed to present the league trophy to Ahly prior to kick off but the ceremony was cancelled upon the team’s request, the EFA said on their official website. “Ahly objected to the hoardings of the ceremony sponsors, which contradicted their own sponsors (Vodafone),” the EFA said in a statement. Neither side managed to break the deadlock in a dull first half but Maqassa’s Omar Najdi threatened Ahly on a couple of occasions. The Moroccan attacking midfielder, who scored Maqassa’s valuable winner over Zamalek in May, was twice denied by Aboul-Saoud after fine individual efforts. Hassan put Ahly in front in the 47th minute when he arrowed a vicious right-foot free kick into the far corner of the net from the edge of the area. Ahly’s enthusiastic supporters chanted his name in an apparent attempt to convince him to stay put although Zamalek appear in pole position to sign him, according to widespread media reports. Ayman Kamal drew Maqassa level in the 66th minute, few moments after his introduction, when he made the most of Rabeia’s failure to clear a tame cross to steal possession, round Aboul-Saoud and slot into an empty net. Aboul-Saoud allowed Maqassa to secure the lead just one minute later when he let a long-range and innocuous shot from Fouad Salama go through his legs and into the net. However, the referee pointed to the spot when Hassan was apparently brought down by a Maqassa defender and Abou-Treika sent the keeper the wrong way from the ensuing penalty. Television replays showed that were minimal contact between Hassan and his opponent but Ahly still basked in their league triumph, with the fireworks of their fans lighting up sky. From ahramonline.