In one of the most thrilling matchups of the third round, Al-Ahly secured a dramatic 3-2 victory against Petrojet, in a match held Wednesday evening at the Military Academy Stadium in Cairo, as part of the final phase of the Egyptian Premier League. This pivotal win puts Al-Ahly back into the heart of the title race, sparking widespread anticipation among fans regarding the league standings as the season approaches its climax.
The match showcased an exhilarating scenario between Al-Ahly and Petrojet. Al-Ahly came out strong, opening the scoring in the 10th minute through Palestinian striker Wessam Abu Ali, who capitalized on a superb cross into the box. Just five minutes later, Amr El-Soulia doubled the lead in the 15th minute, successfully converting a rebound inside the penalty area. However, Petrojet was not to be outdone and managed to level the game before halftime. Rashad Metwali scored from the penalty spot in the 45th minute, and then Loqui Emmanuel equalized in the fifth minute of stoppage time, taking advantage of a defensive mix-up in Al-Ahly's box.
In the second half, interim coach Emad El-Nahas made a crucial substitution, bringing on Slovenian player Nijak Ghradischa for Ashraf Ben Sharqi. The decision paid off quickly as Ghradischa netted the winning goal in the 63rd minute with a shot that caught the goalkeeper off guard. This victory raised Al-Ahly's points tally to 43, keeping them firmly in pursuit of Pyramids, who lead the league with 47 points, just four points ahead with four matches remaining.
On the other side, Petrojet's total remains at 25 points, leaving them in eighth place in the championship group. Meanwhile, Pyramids managed to maintain their lead at the top of the Egyptian league table with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Haras El-Hodoud, played at the Max Stadium in Alexandria. Ali Gaber opened the scoring for Pyramids in the 43rd minute, but Haras El-Hodoud equalized in the 76th minute through Abdel Rahman Gouda. However, Congolese striker Fiston Mayele sealed the win for Pyramids with a late goal in the 87th minute, ensuring they continued their pursuit of a first league title.
This win brought Pyramids' points total to 47, solidifying their position at the top of the table as they aim for their first championship title. Meanwhile, Haras El-Hodoud remains in ninth place with 22 points after suffering their third consecutive defeat in the championship phase.
As the Egyptian Football Association has implemented a two-group system for this season's final phase, the 18 teams were divided after the first round into a championship group and a relegation group. The top nine teams, which include Al-Ahly, Pyramids, and Zamalek, are vying for the title, while the bottom nine are fighting to avoid relegation.
Here's a look at the current standings in the Egyptian Premier League:
As the season progresses, the excitement continues to build as Al-Ahly, Pyramids, and Zamalek battle for supremacy in the Egyptian Premier League. The coming weeks promise to be crucial as teams fight for points and position in the final standings.
