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Spot the foul as inexplicable penalty wins top-of-the-table clash

An Egyptian Premier League clash between the top two teams on the table ended with only a highly questionable penalty separating the sides.

Top-of-the-table Al Ahly travelled to face the second-placed Misr Lel Makasa on Monday looking to extend their lead.

With 20 minutes gone an Al Ahly winger crossed the ball in towards the edge of the 18-yard box towards a teammate, who just got to the ball ahead of a Misr Lel Makasa defender.

But as the opponents began to jostle for position, the referee was already pointing to the spot.

Misr Lel Makasa players surrounded the whistleblower and immediately complained, though it was to no avail as Al Ahly's Abdalla El Said eventually converted the spot kick.

Misr Lel Makasa players were dumbfounded by the penalty. Pic: YouTube
Misr Lel Makasa players were dumbfounded by the penalty. Pic: YouTube

The reason for the penalty remains unclear.

At the very start of the move forward - at the beginning of the video above - two players crashed to the floor after an Al Ahly player shifted the ball to a teammate.

However, the referee did not appear to signal advantage and, if he had, Al Ahly should have received a free kick where the foul took place.

Instead Al Ahly went 1-0 up, a scoreline that remained to the end as Misr Lel Makasa were left wondering if their title challenge was over before it began.