A gutsy Wadi Degla side snapped Zamalek s three-match winning run after holding their illustrious opponents to a 1-1 draw in the Egyptian Premier League on Tuesday.
Degla fell behind to a powerful strike from Zamalek striker Mostafa Mohamed on the quarter-hour mark but still produced a brilliant display that belies their 12th-place rank in the table.
They leveled the score three minutes before halftime, thanks to a volley from Ahmed Said, and were unlucky not to snatch a win in a second half they almost completely dominated.
The possession-based football orchestrated by Degla s Greek coach Takis Gonias looks to be finally working after a poor start to the season.
Zamalek s mini-revival came to an end as they lie third in the table with 25 points, a massive 11 behind leaders and arch rivals Ahly, who still have a game in hand.
Given the big gap, Zamalek s realistic hope lies in finishing second and earning an African Champions League spot. They are seven points behind surprise package and second-placed Arab Contractors, who played two matches more.
Mostafa Mohamed opened the scoring after 15 minutes in style, his right-foot piledriver nestling into the top corner of the net after Degla were robbed in midfield.
Zamalek needlessly eased off after taking an early lead, allowing a typical adventurous Degla side to pour forward en masse.
Degla had a valid penalty claim waved away by the referee when Zamalek defender Mahmoud Hamdi appeared to block a cross with a flailing arm.
But they got the equaliser they deserved in the 42nd minute when Said popped up unmarked at the far post to volley home a lofted pass.
Degla laid siege to Zamalek s area for most of the second half, with Tunisian forward Rafik Kabou guilty of wasting two easy chances.
He broke clear on 49 minutes following a defence-splitting pass from his mis-hit effort was thwarted by keeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal and then failed to connect with a low cross with the goal at his mercy shortly after.
Zamalek s only chance fell to out-of-sorts winger Mohamed Ounajem, the Moroccan blasting high over from a rebound.
