CAIRO: Zamalek assistant coach Ayman Mansour blamed his side s weak 2-0 win over Maleyet Kafr Al-Zayat on poor fitness.
Mostafa Gaafar and Gamal Hamza scored late in each period as Zamalek labored to victory over the second-division side and advanced to the quarter finals of the Egyptian Cup.
We qualified to quarters but the players failed to put on a good display due to lack of fitness, Mansour told a press conference after the game.
We asked them to score early but they lacked efficiency and imagination in front of the goal until Mostafa Gaafar broke the deadlock.
Gaafar headed in the opener in the 45th minute and Gamal Hamza secured the win three minutes from time.
Maleyet Kafr Al-Zayet surprised Zamalek with an impressive performance breaking through their slow defense with some fast counters.
Raafat Ali went close to opening the score as his shot went inches next to the post just before being sent clear on goal but failed to beat keeper Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed.
Zamalek responded with a beautiful volley from Alaa Abdel-Ghani that went just over the bar and some poor attempts from strikers Gaafar and Abdel-Halim Ali.
The Whites’ fans had to wait until the 45th minute before Gaafar could break the deadlock, connecting with Mohamed Aboul Ella’s corner.
Both teams gave us little entertainment in the second half. The visitors had the upper hand but failed to capitalize on their chances.
And just minutes before the final whistle, substitute Hamza secured the full points of the game netting the second from inside the box.
Zamalek will face Suez Cement in the Cup quarters.
The Whites are the favorites for the title after Ahli and Ismaili bowed out with defeats to Asyut Petroleum and Petrojet, respectively.
