Al Ahly continued their bid towards a fourth successive Egyptian Premier League title after strolling to a 2-0 win over bottom side Nogoom to move two points clear on top of the table on Sunday.
Moroccan striker Walid Azaro gave Ahly an early lead but was guilty of spurning several clear-cut opportunities to put the result beyond doubt.
But Ramadan Sobhi, who is on loan from Premier League relegated club Huddersfield Town, made the three points safe with a late goal as Ahly maintained their impressive domestic run which was only interrupted by a 1-0 loss to Pyramids last month.
Ahly have 67 points from 29 games, two ahead of second-placed Pyramids who played 31. Zamalek are third on 60 points from 27 matches.
Nogoom are likely to become the first team to be relegated as they lie at the bottom with 25 points, eight adrift of the safety zone with three matches remaining for them.
Ahly needed seven minutes to go ahead, a superb long ball from revitalized playmaker Saleh Gomaa, who was out of favour for most of the season due to disciplinary problems, releasing Azaro.
He neatly controlled it but his initial effort struck the keeper’s legs, only to make no mistake on the rebound.
But Azaro was guilty of two glaring misses afterwards, failing to beat keeper Mohamed El-Shahat in one-on-one situations.
Ahly remained in total control after the break, although Nogoom had a rare chance in the 58th minute when winger Islam El-Far skipped past veteran right-back Ahmed Fathi in the area but his angled effort was blocked by keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi.
The Red Devils then continued their habit of wasting easy chances, Gomaa dithering on the ball with the goal gaping after a pass from Ramadan Sobhi and having a header denied by the woodwork a few minutes later.
Azaro also missed a sitter but Sobhi atoned for the wasted chances to ensure the win with five minutes remaining.
Substitute Geraldo made an instant impact after coming on, darting down the right before crossing low for Ramadan to cut inside and find the net with a precise low shot past the advancing keeper.
Nogoom had a chance to score a consolation in stoppage time but a penalty by experienced striker Salah Amin was saved by El-Shennawi.
