Ahli failed to maintain their perfect start to the season after being held to a 1-1 home draw by Hodoud, who also defeated the Red Devils in the Super Cup.

The hosts had many attempts thwarted by the linesman's flag as Ahli forwards couldn't spring the offside trap.

"We were surprised by Hodoud's strategy," Maihoub, who usually speaks to media instead of head coach Hossam Al-Badri, told reporters after the game.

"The players' concentration was not at its best so they hardly broke the offside trap."

Hodoud stunned the home crowd nine minutes past the hour mark when Ahmed Salama was found unmarked by an Abdul-Salam Nagah cross to head home at the far post.

Ahli's veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan leveled the score on 78 minutes with a close-range effort.

"Hodoud were very dangerous on the counter attack. They played very well tonight," Maihoub added.

Military club Hodoud lie fourth in the league table with five points from three games.

Ahli, who overcame Ghazl Mahalla and Police Union in their first two games, are still on top with seven points but Petrojet could leapfrog them if they beat Ismaili on Monday.