Egyptian League Round-up: Pyramids lead as rivals keep pace

CAIRO — The third round of the Egyptian Premier League wrapped up with plenty of late drama, tight games and important results as teams continued to find their feet early in the season.

Pyramids FC maintained their perfect start, while Zamalek stayed among the early leaders with another win. Al-Ahly and ZED FC both left it late to secure victories, while several teams finally picked up their first points of the campaign.

The top six after three rounds are Pyramids FC (9 points), Al-Ahly (9), Zamalek (7), Ceramica Cleopatra (6), Talae El-Geish (6) and Al-Masry (6).

Here’s a look at the main talking points from the round.

Al-Ahly 1-0 Smouha

Al-Ahly left it late to beat Smouha 1-0 at Cairo International Stadium.

Yasser Ibrahim scored the winner in the 88th minute with a powerful strike to give the Red Devils all three points.

The win takes Al-Ahly to nine points in second place, levels with leaders Pyramids FC but behind on goal difference. Smouha remains 18th with one point.

Al-Ittihad 2-0 Abu Qir

Al-Ittihad of Alexandria earned a 2-0 win over Abu Qir Fertilizers at Alexandria Stadium.

Hossam Hassan broke the deadlock in the 68th minute before Nigerian midfielder Saviour Isaac sealed the win in the sixth minute of added time.

Al-Ittihad moves up to ninth with four points, while Abu Qir stays 13th on three.

Ceramica 2-0 Modern SC

Ceramica Cleopatra continued their good start with a 2-0 win over Modern SC.

Nigerian forward Sadiq Igola put the hosts ahead after five minutes, while Ahmed Belhaj doubled their lead in the 63rd minute.

Ceramica climbs to fourth with six points. Modern SC stays on four points in ninth.

Contractors 1-0 El-Gouna

Arab Contractors claimed their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over El-Gouna at Khaled Bichara Stadium.

Mostafa Gamal converted a penalty in the 43rd minute to give the hosts their first three points.

Arab Contractors moves up to 12th, while El-Gouna continues in 15th place with two points.

Wadi Degla 0-0 Canal SC

Wadi Degla and Canal SC shared the points in a goalless draw at Al-Salam Stadium.

Wadi Degla stays seventh on five points, with Canal SC eighth on goal difference. Both sides stay unbeaten after three games.

ZED FC 1-0 Talae El-Geish

ZED FC also left it late, beating Talae El-Geish 1-0 at the Sports Authority Stadium.

Omar Khaled scored in the 87th minute to end Talae El-Geish’s perfect start after two wins from their opening two matches.

Talae El-Geish holds onto fifth place with six points, while ZED FC moves to 11th on four points.

El-Mahalla 0-0 Enppi

Ghazl El-Mahalla and Sharqia Enppi played out a 0-0 draw at El-Mahalla Stadium, giving both sides their first point of the season after two defeats.

The result offers a small lift as both clubs look to move away from the bottom of the table.

Pyramids FC 1-0 Al-Masry

Pyramids FC kept their perfect record with a 1-0 win over Al-Masry at New Suez Stadium.

Ahmed Samy scored the only goal in the 11th minute as Pyramids made it three wins from three.

They stay top with nine points, while Al-Masry keeps the sixth spot with six points.

Zamalek 2-1 Petrojet

Zamalek beat Suez Petrojet 2-1 at Cairo International Stadium to move third on seven points.

Hossam Ashraf headed them in front in the 40th minute before Mohamed El-Sayed doubled the lead in the 63rd.

Badr Moussa pulled one back for Petrojet from the penalty spot in the 90th minute, but Zamalek held on.

The result took Zamalek to seven points in third place, while Petrojet stays on one point in 17th place.

NBE Club 1-0 Asyut Petroleum

NBE Club picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Asyut Petroleum at Borg El-Arab Stadium.

Mohamed Nasr’s shot took a deflection off Asyut defender Mahmoud Aly and went in for an own goal in the 74th minute.

NBE moves up to 14th on three points, while Asyut Petroleum remains 16th on two.