Nigerian duo Maarouf Yussuf and Stanley Ohawucihi were on target to give Zamalek a 2-0 Egyptian Premier League win over mid-table Petrojet on Tuesday and hand them a timely boost ahead of a crucial African Champions League clash next week.
Zamalek scored both goals in the first half to ease to their fifth consecutive league win under Portuguese coach Augusto Inacio, although there is little to play for in this seasons' competition, which was won by arch-rivals Ahly.
The White Knights are close to ensuring a third-place finish, which qualifies for the African Confederation Cup, as they went five points clear of fourth-placed Masry with two games remaining.
The victory over Petrojet will lift their morale ahead of a vital Champions League Group B clash away to Zimbabwe's Caps United on Sunday, which will largely determine whether they are capable of reaching the quarter-finals following their 2-0 loss away to USM Alger in their previous match.
Central midfielder Yussuf, who is one of Zamalek's best performers this term, scored a rare goal to open the scoring after 24 minutes, calmly slotting the ball under the advancing keeper following a threaded pass from experienced winger Mahmoud Shikabala.
Petrojet's Mostafa Shebeita wasted a chance to equalise when his penalty struck the bar five minutes before the break after James Teidy was felled by defender Mahmoud Hamdi. The team were punished for the miss on the stroke of halftime. On-loan Nigerian forward Stanley, whose future remains uncertain, rounded the advancing keeper after a deep through pass from midfielder Ahmed Tawfik and slotted the ball into an empty net.
Zamalek held on in a bore second half to continue their winning run in the league as they turn to their focus to the lucrative Champions League.