A last gasp strike from substitute Abdoulaye Cisse was enough to secure Egyptian giants, Zamalek the three points at the expense of CS Sfaxien on Saturday in Cairo.
The Burkinabe-import scored the winner a minute from time to give the White Knights a deserving victory in an encounter they dominated possession.
Zamalek now share top spot of Group B with Orlando Pirates of South Africa with three points apiece. Pirates shocked Congolese side AC Leopards by a similar result in the group’s other fixture earlier in Dolisie.
The Burkinabe-import scored the winner a minute from time to give the White Knights a deserving victory in an encounter they dominated possession.
Zamalek now share top spot of Group B with Orlando Pirates of South Africa with three points apiece. Pirates shocked Congolese side AC Leopards by a similar result in the group’s other fixture earlier in Dolisie.
With leading marksman Bassem Morsy suspended for the clash, the Cairo giants failed to make their control of the game reflect on the score cards, finding it difficult to get the ball past Sfaxien goalie Rami Jeridi.
After a barren first half, Zamalek captain Omar Gaber let in a cross from the left, but Ahmed Tawfik’s header missed narrowly to the relief of the visitors four minutes after the break.
Sfaxien, the most successful side in the history of the second-tier continental club championship with three triumphs, never found their feet and the consistent pressure from the hosts did not help matters either.
On 51 minutes, Tawfik again fired wayward from close range and three minutes later, a free-kick after Hazem Emam was fouled at the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, went wasted.
Zamalek never relented, giving an indication that it was only a matter of time that the deadlock would be broken.
Substitute Ahmed Gharib should have shot the hosts into the lead on 72 minutes, after profiting from a lousy defending by the Sfaxien rear, but with only goalkeeper Jeridi to beat; his effort was well saved by the latter.
With the game heading for a stalemate, Cisse ensured the three points remained in his side’s kitty with his tap in on 89 minutes. From a corner, Gaber fetched diminutive midfielder Ayman Hefny who dribbled his marker before laying a back-flick to Gaber, who crossed for Cisse to nod home for the only goal of the match.
Results
Group A
26/06/2015 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) 1-0 Stade Malien (Mali)
28/06/2015 Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Esperance (Tunisia)
Group B
27/06/2015 AC Leopards (Congo) 0-1 Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
27/06/2015 Zamalek (Egypt) 1-0 CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
After a barren first half, Zamalek captain Omar Gaber let in a cross from the left, but Ahmed Tawfik’s header missed narrowly to the relief of the visitors four minutes after the break.
Sfaxien, the most successful side in the history of the second-tier continental club championship with three triumphs, never found their feet and the consistent pressure from the hosts did not help matters either.
On 51 minutes, Tawfik again fired wayward from close range and three minutes later, a free-kick after Hazem Emam was fouled at the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, went wasted.
Zamalek never relented, giving an indication that it was only a matter of time that the deadlock would be broken.
Substitute Ahmed Gharib should have shot the hosts into the lead on 72 minutes, after profiting from a lousy defending by the Sfaxien rear, but with only goalkeeper Jeridi to beat; his effort was well saved by the latter.
With the game heading for a stalemate, Cisse ensured the three points remained in his side’s kitty with his tap in on 89 minutes. From a corner, Gaber fetched diminutive midfielder Ayman Hefny who dribbled his marker before laying a back-flick to Gaber, who crossed for Cisse to nod home for the only goal of the match.
Results
Group A
26/06/2015 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) 1-0 Stade Malien (Mali)
28/06/2015 Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Esperance (Tunisia)
Group B
27/06/2015 AC Leopards (Congo) 0-1 Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
27/06/2015 Zamalek (Egypt) 1-0 CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
By: Cafonline.com
RSS Feed