Al Ahly have been topped champions of the Egyptian Tremendous Cup for membership champions after defeating their conventional rivals, Zamalek, 7-6 in a dramatic penalty shootout. The match, held final night time at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, led to a goalless draw after common and additional time.
With this victory, Al Ahly prolonged their file of Tremendous Cup wins to fifteen titles, seven of which have come at Zamalek’s expense. This win additionally served as revenge for Al Ahly, who had misplaced the African Tremendous Cup to Zamalek underneath related circumstances final month in Riyadh.
The match was a footballing spectacle, performed earlier than a shocking crowd of greater than 33,000 followers who packed the stands of Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. As soon as once more, Abu Dhabi efficiently hosted the Egyptian Tremendous Cup, marking the eighth time the occasion has been held within the UAE capital, persevering with the UAE’s success in organizing each Arab and worldwide sporting occasions.
All through the 120 minutes of play, each groups fought onerous, with neither in a position to break the impasse. In the long run, the penalty shootout favored “The Pink Fortress” (Al Ahly). Al Ahly’s profitable penalty takers have been Mohamed Magdy Afsha, Omar Kamal, Marwan Atteya, Amr El Solia, Percy Tau, Yahia Attiyat Allah, and Hussein El Shahat, whereas Reda Slim and Youssef Ayman missed their kicks.
For Zamalek, Abdullah El Saeed, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Nasser Mansi, Zizo, and Konrad Michalak transformed their penalties, however Hamza Mathlouthi, Shikabala, and Omar Gaber missed essential makes an attempt.
Al Ahly had the higher hand within the first half, dominating the midfield and creating a number of scoring probabilities. Nonetheless, they have been unable to capitalize on these alternatives, due to the stellar efficiency of Zamalek’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Awad, who made two essential saves within the first half.
The primary main probability of the match got here within the eighth minute when Al Ahly’s Hussein El Shahat missed a golden alternative after going one-on-one with Awad, who expertly saved the shot. Awad was as soon as once more in motion within the fifteenth minute, denying striker Wissam Abu Ali a transparent scoring probability.
Within the twenty first minute, Yahia Attiyat Allah rattled the crossbar with a shocking free-kick from outdoors the world, and Wissam Abu Ali’s shot brushed the left submit simply earlier than halftime.
However, Zamalek struggled to say themselves within the first half, with their solely actual risk coming from a disallowed aim by Tunisian striker Seifeddine Jaziri within the twenty seventh minute, dominated out for offside after VAR intervention. The half led to a goalless draw.
Zamalek confirmed important enchancment within the second half, buying and selling assaults with Al Ahly and creating harmful probabilities, significantly in the direction of the tip of the match. Zizo unleashed a robust shot within the 83rd minute, forcing Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy into an excellent save. Three minutes later, Seifeddine Jaziri missed an important alternative, sending Zizo’s cross huge of the submit.
Neither facet managed to attain in further time as fatigue set in, forcing the sport right into a penalty shootout, the place Al Ahly finally triumphed.
Comply with Emirates 24|7 on Google Information.