The Mahalla Municipality achieved a huge surprise, after defeating its host, the Arab Contractors, 2-0, today, Wednesday, in the opening stage of the Egyptian Premier League football championship.
The remaining matches of the stage resulted in Al-Dakhiliya defeating its guest, Enppi, 1-0, while Smouha of Alexandria tied with its guest, El-Gouna, 1-1.
At Othman Ahmed Othman Stadium, Abdel Rahman Gamal opened the scoring for Al Municipality, which returned to the Premier League after a long period of absence, in the 16th minute from a penalty kick.
Hossam Ashraf added the second goal for the municipality in the 75th minute, giving the visiting team the first 3 points in its career in the competition this season.
At Alexandria Stadium, Smouha missed a win that was within their reach, falling into the trap of a 1-1 draw with its guest El Gouna, which is also returning to the tournament, coming from the Second Division League.
Fadi Farid took the initiative early for Smouha in the fourth minute, before the same player missed a penalty kick in the 59th minute. Punishment came from El Gouna, which scored the equalizer through its Moroccan star Ahmed Belhaj in the fourth minute of counted time instead of stoppage time for the second half from a penalty kick. So that each team gets the first point in its championship journey this season.
The Al-Dakhiliya team opened its campaign in the new season of the competition with a 1-0 victory over its guest, Enppi, earlier today.
Abdulaziz Al-Sayed wore the dress of excellence in the match, after scoring Al-Dakhiliya’s only goal in the 36th minute, while the petroleum team was unable to achieve an equalizer during the remaining time of the match.
Thus, Al-Dakhiliya obtained the first three points in its tournament this season.
It is noteworthy that Al-Dakhiliya escaped relegation to the second division with great difficulty last season, after obtaining fifteenth place (fourth from the bottom) at the time in the ranking table, which witnessed Enppi obtaining sixth place.
