ASYUT (Interstat) — Ahmed Sherif scored in the 26th minute and Zamalek made that goal stand in a 1-0 victory over Asyut Petroleum on Tuesday at Asyut University Stadium. The visitors took the lead with the game’s only goal and kept the home side off the scoreboard for the rest of the match. Sherif’s finish came after Asyut Petroleum had already been shown the first yellow card, and it proved enough for Zamalek to leave with the win. The goal was the decisive moment in a match that otherwise produced no scoring.

Zamalek’s season record in this competition is now one win and one loss. Asyut Petroleum’s season record in this competition is also one win and one loss. Across all competitions, Zamalek is now 2-2, while Asyut Petroleum is 1-2. The result gave Zamalek its second win across all competitions and left Asyut Petroleum with its second loss overall. For Asyut Petroleum, the home defeat followed a win over Abo Qir Semad and a loss to Al Ahly. For Zamalek, the victory followed a road win and losses to Al Ahly and ZED.

Asyut Petroleum was issued the first yellow card of the match when Abbas I. was booked in the 18th minute. Zamalek’s El Zenary M. received a yellow card in the 28th minute, two minutes after Sherif’s goal. Asyut Petroleum’s Medhat A. was cautioned in the 53rd minute as the home side tried to find a response. The cards interrupted the flow of a match that remained decided by Sherif’s first-half strike. Asyut Petroleum could not produce an equalizing goal after the caution, and Zamalek protected its narrow lead through the closing stages.

Zamalek made its first substitution in the 38th minute, bringing on Gehad M. Asyut Petroleum made a change in the 59th minute with El Khamisi A. In the 63rd minute, Zamalek brought on Hamad M. and took off Sherif A., who had played 63 minutes and scored the game’s only goal. Asyut Petroleum made three substitutions in the 68th minute, with Abbas I., Keshkesh A. and Eid M. entering. Zamalek used two more changes in the 79th minute, bringing on Gaber O. and Esho. Asyut Petroleum made its final change in the 81st minute when Khaled A. entered. The substitutions came as both teams looked to reshape the match in the final half-hour.

The game was played at Asyut University Stadium in Asyut, Egypt. Zamalek entered the match after a road win and losses to Al Ahly and ZED. Asyut Petroleum entered after a win at Abo Qir Semad and a loss to Al Ahly. Zamalek’s next League Cup match is at Wadi Degla. Asyut Petroleum’s next League Cup match is at ENPPI. Zamalek’s upcoming League Cup schedule also includes a home match against Ittihad and a trip to Gaish. Asyut Petroleum’s schedule includes a home match against Mokawloon and a trip to Gouna.

Zamalek’s victory came in a match that produced only one goal. Asyut Petroleum could not turn its home-field advantage into a goal at Asyut University Stadium. The home side had the earlier caution and made several second-half changes, but the scoreline remained unchanged after Sherif’s 26th-minute goal. Zamalek, meanwhile, made its own adjustments and held on for the result. The win gave Zamalek a split of its first two matches in the competition, while Asyut Petroleum also moved to 1-1 in the competition.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Asyut Petroleum 2, Zamalek 0, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Asyut Petroleum a 72.8 percent probability to win. Zamalek had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.