CAIRO: Zamalek guaranteed that they will finish the season as the Egyptian Premier League runners-up after beating relegated side Asyut Petroleum 4-1 on Thursday.
Having cemented their place in second spot, Hossam Hassan’s side secured a berth in the upcoming CAF Champions League.
Zamalek took no part in the continental competition in the last two years.
The White Knights are in the league table second place with 54 points, seven ahead of closest rivals Petrojet who lost 3-2 to Gaish on the same day.
All teams have one match to go.
In Cairo, an own-goal from Asyut’s Mashoor Ahmed gave Zamalek the lead on eight minutes after the midfielder mistakenly diverted a cross into his own net.
In-form forward Shikabala doubled the hosts’ lead three minutes later when he darted clear into the area before slotting home.
An unmarked Hossam Osama pulled one back for the Petroleum side with a sensational volley five minutes from the half-hour mark.
But Zamalek regained their two-goal cushion when Ahmed Gafaar connected with a Mohamed Abdul-Shafi powerful cross on 29 minutes, to take his scoring tally to nine goals.
Shikabala left Asyut with a mountain to climb after latching onto a Hussein Yasser through to score the fourth for Zamalek one minute from halftime.
Zamalek defender Mahmoud Fathallah sustained what seemed to be a serious facial injury after colliding with a challenger.
The 28-year-old, who was bleeding heavily, was stretchered off and hospitalized, making way for Amr Adel.
After the break, Asyut surprisingly took control of the game while Zamalek were inexplicably stuttering.
But the visitors couldn’t translate their threats on Zamalek into goals.
Mashoor was close to atoning for the early own goal but his low drive was denied by the post.
Wael Farrag also wasted a golden chance to get his name on the score sheet when he dribbled past Zamalek goalie Mohamed Abdul-Monsef but failed to poke into an empty net.
Abdul-Monsef stood between the sticks because Zamalek’s first-choice keeper Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed is suspended for collecting three yellow cards.
