Match report: Ittihad 0-0 Al Ahly
Al Ahly dropped the title-winning 3 points after they held a 0-0 draw against Al-Ittihad at Borg Al Arab in Alexandria. Al Ahly started the game with a frontline pressure to score the opening goal, but Al Ittihad players surrendered the possession to keep their net clean.
In the 4th minute, Al Ittihad's Marwan Attia threatened El-Shenawy's goal after a strong header, but the ball went over the bar. Al Ahly kept their pressure during the first half amid continuous pressure from the Alexandrian team to score also the first goal.
In the 22nd minute, Badji shot a dangerous ball on the opponent's net after an impressive one – two pass between El-Shiekh and Marwan Mohsen. The game was tightened between the midfield players during most of the 1st half, until 42nd minute as El-Shiekh shot the ball near Al Ittihad's net.
Just before the half-hour mark, a defensive lapse from Al Ittihad's defence allowed Mohsen to pass the ball to Badji who shot the ball, but Al Zonfouly saved it and denied the Al Ahly from taking the lead.
With the beginning of the second half, Rabia suffered a muscle strain which led him to be substituted with Ahmed Fathy. Al Ittihad's forward Khaled Qamr was booked a yellow card for his late challenge against Ayman Ashraf with 10 minutes played in the 2nd half, and then Fathy followed him into the book for another late challenge in the 55th minute.
The 58th minute witnessed an early drama as Al Ittihad got their best chance of the match after getting a penalty besides sending off Ahmed Fathy for getting the second yellow card after the referee checked the VAR.
El Shenawy succeeded to keep his clean sheets once again and prevented Refaat to take the lead for the Alexandrian team. In the minute 64, Kahrba, Soliman and El Soulia left the bench to join the game as Wieler changed the playing style after Fathy's red card.
Al Ahly managed a scoring opportunity in the 70th minute, but Marwan missed it after a fine block from the Alexandrian defense. The 88th minute witnessed constant protests from Al Ahly players as they demanded a penalty, but the referee did not confirm on it after checking the VAR.
As the game drifted into stoppage time, El Shenawy was needed again in the 92nd minute when he prevented El Deeb from scoring a vital goal. With five minutes left on the watch, the Al Ahly kept their pressure to score the winning goal but all their shots were blocked.
Al Ahly banked a point and another clean sheet and only need 2 points to win the EPL after being on top of the table with 72 points tally.
