Ceramica Cleopatra Reclaims the Lead as Pharco Secures Their First Win in a Spirited Egyptian Premier League

Ceramica Cleopatra Reclaims the Egyptian Premier League Lead

Ceramica Cleopatra reclaimed the top spot in the Egyptian Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Kahraba Ismailia, at the Ismailia Canal Authority Stadium. The visitors benefited from a late, fortunate moment when Yassin Abu Zora conceded an own goal in the 58th minute, sealing a win that keeps them at the summit.

The win lifts Ceramica to 23 points, led by coach Ali Maher, and temporarily puts them ahead of the rest of the round’s fixtures, including Petrojet vs Al Ahly on Tuesday. Kahraba Ismailia stay on 8 points, sitting near the bottom of the table.

Despite the victory, Ceramica did not produce their best football, facing a disciplined defensive display from the hosts. Ali Maher responded by reshuffling his attack in the second half, bringing on the experienced Ahmed Samir at the expense of Ayman Saad “Moka.” Saad Samir suffered an injury in the 66th minute and was replaced by Nigerian Arthur Gusts.

Mohamed Bassam was named man of the match after a string of sharp saves and decisive moments that kept Ceramica alive in the crucial early stages and ultimately sealed the three points.

Pharco Edges Ismaily for Their First League Win

In the day’s other standout result, Pharco claimed their first win of the season in the Egyptian top flight with a 1-0 victory over Ismaily at Borg El Arab Stadium. The Senegalese striker Babacar Ndayi struck in first-half stoppage time (45th minute) after a clever assist from substitute Karim El Tayeb, who came on for the injured Mohamed Fahri after 17 minutes.

Pharco moved onto 9 points, climbing away from the relegation zone, while Ismaily remained on 7 points with the full weight of administration problems and on-field battles shaping their campaign.

The Fifteen minutes after the restart saw Pharco defend their narrow lead as Islami consolidated mid-match pressure, while Ismaily pushed for an equalizer but could not find the target. A late penalty awarded to Ismaily in the 88th minute was waved off after a VAR review, keeping Pharco’s lead intact.

Pharco’s victory lifts them to 9 points in the standings, while Ismaily stay in the lower end as coaches and players regroup for the next fixtures in a season already defined by volatility off the pitch and stubborn opposition on it.

The afternoon also featured a dramatic finish elsewhere as Talaea El Gaish drew 2-2 with ZED FC in a gripping encounter. Talaea took an early lead through Kareem Tariq, only for ZED to level through Mohamed Rabee and then take the lead late before Mustafa Saad equalized in stoppage time. The result left Gaish at 10 points in the 16th spot and ZED on 16 points in eighth.

As the league progresses, the standings remain crowded, with Al Ahly and Ceramica Cleopatra sitting second and first at 21 and 23 points respectively, while Al Masry sit third and Zamalek fourth in the table’s upper echelon. The league’s format continues to see a split after the first phase, with the top seven competing for the title and the rest battling to avoid relegation.

Punchline time: If football were a sniper, these teams would still need a scope—tonight’s goals came with more precision than a laser sight. Punchline two: In this league, even a one-goal win can feel like a full-blown victory parade—talk about a crowd-pleasing, foot-saving finish.