Zamalek beat Ahly on penalties to win CAF Super Cup
Zamalek
beat fellow Egyptian club Al Ahly 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to win the
annual CAF Super Cup match in Riyadh on Friday.
Wessam
Abou Ali had given Ahly a 44th-minute lead from a fiercely disputed penalty in
regular time and substitute Nasser Mansy levelled on 77 minutes with his first
touch of the ball.
Zamalek
then converted their four penalties in the shootout while Ahly failed twice as
Mohamed Awad saved from Yahya Attia Allah and Abou Ali struck the post.
It
was the fifth Super Cup victory in six attempts for Zamalek in the annual
showdown between the winners of the CAF Champions League and the second-tier
CAF Confederation Cup.
Ahly
remain the most successful club in the Super Cup with eight wins, but have now
lost four times as well.
A
tense finish after Zamalek equalised was some compensation for the capacity
30,000 crowd at the Kingdom Arena stadium in the Saudi Arabian capital after a
stop-start affair.
Zamalek
were furious after Ahly were awarded a 34th-minute penalty when Hamza
Mathlouthi stamped on the left leg of Akram Tawfik, who had spoilt a good run
with a weak shot at Awad.
The
Libyan referee checked the incident on the VAR monitor and when he indicated a
penalty, furious Zamalek players surrounded him.
At
one stage Zamalek players moved to the sideline, hinting they might walk off in
protest, and it took 10 minutes before play resumed and Palestine international
Abou Ali scored from the spot.
When
the referee blew for half-time, security officials rushed on to the pitch and
escorted him to the changerooms amid more Zamalek protests.
With
Zamalek making little impact in attack, Portuguese coach Jose Gomes introduced
Mansy, and he connected with an Omar Gaber cross to push the ball wide of goalkeeper
Mohamed el Shenawy.
Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment