Al Ahly recovered from two goals down to beat Sharkia ENPPI, as the opening round of the Egyptian Premier League concluded
The comeback gave Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta a victory in his first league match in charge of Al Ahly.
El Sharkia ENPPI stunned everyone by taking the lead in the 17th minute. Ali Ehab capitalised on an error by Ahmed Nabil Kouka and beat Mostafa Shobeir with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area.
The visitors had an opportunity to double their advantage six minutes later. However, Mohamed Hamdy sent his penalty wide of the right post.
El Sharkia scored their second goal one minute later. Mohamed Essam struck from long range to leave Shobeir with no chance.
Marwan Attia began Al Ahly’s comeback in the 34th minute. The midfielder found space outside the area and fired past Abdelrahman Samir to reduce the deficit before half-time.
Al Ahly increased the pressure after the restart, drawing level in the 69th minute after a Sharkia defender pushed Achraf Bencharki inside the penalty area. Ahmed Sayed Zizo converted the resulting spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Two substitutes combined for the winning goal in the 90th minute. Sofiane Benjdida played Afsha through on goal, and the midfielder placed his finish beyond Samir to complete the comeback.
The result gave Al Ahly their first three points of the season, while El Sharkia ENPPI, coached by former Al Ahly midfielder Mohamed Barakat, ended their top-flight return without a point despite leading 2-0 after 24 minutes.
Ten Man Canal Stun Ceramica
Newly promoted Canal SC also completed a comeback, beating Ceramica Cleopatra 2-1 with a 97th-minute winner.
Ceramica took the lead after receiving a penalty for a handball in the ninth minute. Canal goalkeeper Mohamed Shaaban saved Amr Kalawa’s spot-kick and then stopped his follow-up, but Mohamed Reda Bobo converted the second rebound.
Canal received a penalty of their own following an Ahmed Hany handball. Ibrahim Sami converted in the 51st minute to bring the visitors level.
Ceramica then had another opportunity from the spot after Mahmoud Shalata fouled Hany. Shaaban saved Bobo’s penalty to keep the score level.
Canal later went down to ten players when Momen Rady received a red card for a heavy challenge.
Despite their disadvantage, they claimed all three points in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Shalata released Ghanaian forward Mawuli Wayo with a long pass, and the substitute finished beyond Mohamed Bassam.
The result gave Canal a winning return to the Premier League and handed Ceramica an opening defeat.
Two Stoppage Time Goals Decide El Gouna Draw
El Gouna and Modern Sport drew 1-1 after both goals arrived in second-half stoppage time at Khaled Bichara Stadium.
Mahmoud Mamdouh appeared to secure victory for Modern Sport when he opened the scoring in the fourth added minute. However, El Gouna responded two minutes later. Ahmed Zaki scored in the 96th minute to rescue a point for the hosts.
Pyramids finished the first gameweek top of the standings on goal difference following their 3-0 victory over Ghazl El-Mahalla.
Al Ahly, Al Masry, Tala’ea El-Gaish, Canal and Abu Qir Fertilizers also opened the season with three points.