Zamalek came back from behind twice to draw with Masry 2-2 but it was never enough as the result handed arch-rivals Ahly the Egyptian league title following a 2-1 victory over Ismaily on Friday.

In a decisive Egyptian league week, Zamalek – who were five points adrift of Ahly in second place – needed to keep piling the pressure up on their arch-foes to keep alive their slim hopes of retaining the title.   

A 2-1 win for Ahly over bitter rivals Ismaily, however, meant Zamalek should have beaten Masry to keep the five-point gap intact before the last two league fixtures – which include a derby meeting between Cairo's top duo.

But at the time the Whites' fans expected them to be pushing for an early lead against Masry, it was the latter who went ahead in the ninth minute through Mohamed Mosaad after capitalizing on some poor defending from their fancied opponents.

Zamalek had to wait till the 65^th minute to bring the score level through talismanic midfielder Mohamed Ibrahim, but it was the Port-Said club who restored their advantage once again via Mohamed Ashraf with 12 minutes remaining.

Bassem Morsi then gave his side a glimmer of hope in the last minute of regular time with Ahly already leading 2-1, but it proved little as Zamalek could only come up with a draw.

Zamalek center-back Ahmed Dwidar was handed a straight red card in the last minute following a tactical foul.

Zamalek, who already guaranteed a Champions League spot, are second on 67 points, seven adrift of 38-time Egyptian champions Ahly with only two matches left.   

Zamalek showed determination early on, but it was Mosaad who put his side in front after beating left-back Mohamed Adel Gomaa before getting into the area and finding the net with a low left-footed shot with defender Dwidar failing to mark properly.

Following some wasted chances from Mahmoud Kahraba and Ali Gabr, Ibrahim finally restored parity with a powerful low half-volley from inside the area after the ball hit a Masry defender to fall into his path.

But Hossam Hassan's side, who beat Ahly 3-2 the previous week, made Zamalek's mission more difficult when Ashraf headed his side's second from point-blank range on the rebound.

Morsi finally managed to hit the equalizer in the last minute of the game after he was found on-side by the Masry defence to smash the ball into the roof of the net for the leveler.

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