Inspired substitutions, late goals and high drama at the National Stadium
CAIRO: Ahly came from behind three times to overcome city rivals Zamalek, in a sensational Egyptian Cup final at the National Stadium Monday.
Two late goals from substitute Osama Hosni sealed victory for the Red Devils, capping a trophy-laden season, in which they eased to an Egyptian league title and secured the African Champions League.
And with only minutes to go, first in normal time, then in extra time, it looked as if Zamalek were on course to win their first silverware in three years.
Zamalek coach Henri Michel opted for a defensive line-up, deploying skipper Hazem Emam in place of his side’s main attacking threat Mahmoud Abdul-Razeq (aka Shikibala) thereby offering protection to recent injury returnees Alaa Abdul-Ghani and Tamer Abdul-Hamid in the center of midfield.
And his side had to absorb a good deal of Ahly pressure early in the first half.
Aboutrika looked particularly menacing, narrowly missing the diving Emad Meteb with a dangerous ball in from the right on 10 minutes, before slipping past two defenders on the half hour mark, only to send his low effort wide of the upright.
Zamalek striker Amr Zaki wasted a good opportunity minutes later after he picked up on a deft Gamal Hamza chip, sending a shot inches wide from close range.
Both sides could have broken the deadlock in the closing stages of the first half, Aboutrika and Flavio both squandering good opportunities for Ahly, but somehow it remained goalless going into half-time.
Zamalek returned from the break minus defender Wissem El-Abdi – who picked up an injury – but with renewed purpose.
And they were gifted a goal on 50 minutes, after a mix up in the Ahly defence allowed
Zamalek striker Amr Zaki to get his head on a long ball that was not properly cleared.
Their lead was cancelled out seven minutes later, however, after Meteb, who had been put through on goal by Flavio, made the Zamalek net bulge with a clinical finish.
Zamalek fans’ pleas were eventually answered when Shikibala was introduced around the hour mark, replacing the ineffective Emam on the left flank.
And not long after, he repaid his coach’s decision, sending a rasping low shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner of the Ahly goal on 65 minutes.
Zamalek piled men back behind the ball in an effort to frustrate Ahly and protect their slender lead, and for much of the remainder of the half their tactic succeeded.
Although Ahly had most of the possession and continuously pressed forward, they could not make the pressure count.
But with only three minutes remaining, when it looked as though Zamalek were destined for the Egyptian Cup and a second successive derby victory, Aboutrika sprung onto Mohamed Shawki s low cross to equalize, and take the game to extra time.
Despite having played out an exasperating 90 minutes in temperatures of over 30 degrees, both sides returned to the field with fresh hunger.
Shikibala continued to cause the edgy-looking Ahly defence problems, and one of his low crosses found Hamza, who did well to control the ball before sending a magnificent effort past the stranded Ahly keeper, to give Zamalek a 3-2 lead.
Zamalek must have thought they had done enough to finish the tie, as they entered the last 15 minutes.
But, as has happened so often done in the past, they succumbed to a late Ahly comeback.
A glorious long-ball from Aboutrika in behind the Zamalek defence found the head of substitute Hosni, who directed his effort past Abdul-Monsef, making it 3-3 with just minutes to go, and sparking wild celebrations from the large Ahly contingent.
And with Zamalek fans and players still in shock, Hosni struck again two minutes later,
with a header from Ahmed Sedik’s precise cross, putting the game beyond their dumbstruck opponents.
With the Ahly stands in raptures, Zamalek fans streamed out of the stadium, wondering how they were mourning yet another derby defeat, when moments earlier they were preparing to celebrate a memorable victory.
