"We had a penalty overlooked. But this wasn't why we lost the game," he told Modern Sport late on Friday.

Two minutes before Ahli's opener, Gamal Hamza went one-on-one with keeper Amir Abdul-Hamid before falling down inside the box.

Italian referee Stefano Farina cautioned Hamza for diving, leaving the Zamalek forward shocked.

Television replays proved there was a slight contact but after Hamza has been already falling.

Helmi, however, had other thoughts in a brief interview with the club's official website, www.zamaleksc.org.

"The Italian referee slaughtered Zamalek," was the headline of the story, quoting Helmi.

The newly-appointed coach added: "Farina overlooked a certain penalty and this was one of the main reasons of the defeat."

"He wasn't up to the level of the game."

Cup Dream

Helmi called up on Zamalek players to forget the defeat and focus on the upcoming Egyptian Cup clash with Harras Al-Hodoud.

The Whites play Hodoud on Tuesday in a bid to save their last opportunity for silverware this season.

Twenty points adrift of leaders Ahli, they have no chance in winning the league.

With all the big guns out of the Cup, Zamalek are favorites to win their first title in four years.

"We talked to the players after the game and told them that the next encounter is what really matters," Helmi said.

The winners from Zamalek-Hodoud tie will play either ENPPI or Arab Contractors for the tile of Egypt's oldest competition.