Zamalek shines and returns from Morocco with a beautiful victory

Zamalek surprised Raja at his home, the Mohammed V sports complex, with a wonderful goal from Moroccan Ashraf Bin Sharqi, with an elaborate header in the 18th minute, taking advantage of a perfect cross sent by Ahmed Sayed Zizou.

The rematch will take place next Saturday, October 24.

Wholesale absences

Moroccan coach Jamal Al-Salami missed many of the names that won the national league title last week, especially defenders Abdel-Jalil Jubaira, Abdel-Rahim Al-Shakir, Omar Bouteeb and Al-Libi Sanad Al-Werfalli, due to injury, forward Hamid Ahadad at the expiration of his contract, as well as midfielders Mohamed Zarida due to the Corona virus and Ayoub. Novelty.

Al-Salami played with goalkeeper Anas Al-Zuniti and in front of him was the three defender Abd al-Ghallah Madkour, Cameroonian Fabrice Ngah and Bader Lebanon, and tried to intensify the midfield with the participation of Elias Al-Haddad, Omar Al-Arjun, the Congolese Luamba Ngoma and the Congolese Democratic leader Luamba Ngoma and the Democratic leader of the Sufizi left, and the Democratic leader of Sufizi on the left, and the Democratic leader of Sufiz. As a spearhead.

Zamalek’s Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco played in a way that reflected his usual style despite the absence of defender Mahmoud Alaa, Tunisian Ferjani Sassi and team captain Hazem Imam, and was joined by goalkeeper Muhammad Abu Jabal and front to him were the defensive hearts Muhammad Abd al-Ghani and Mahmoud al-Wansh to the defensive centrals of the young Ahmaid and the young Juma Emaid. Tariq Hamid and Islam Jaber, and in front of them the playmaker Yusef Obama, and on the offensive line were supported by the two full-backs Ahmed Sayed “Zizou” and the Moroccan Ashraf Bencharqi and the open spearhead Mustafa Mohamed.

The time to take the pulse between the two teams was immediate, as Al Hafizi opened the game with a long shot, Abu Jeel had no trouble holding it (9), and the answer came from Bencharki, who knows the stadium well after winning the African title with Wydad in 2017, when he hit a strong, creeping ball that was caught by Al-Zuniti. (eleven).

Raja demanded a penalty following a mistake on Rahimi by Ahmed Eid, but Cameroonian referee Allium Nyant ordered to continue playing without resorting to the technique of the video assistant referee “VAR” (15). Zamalek responded again, but this time effectively after Ahmed Sayed penetrated “Zizou” “On the right side and reversing an elaborate cross ball to follow it with an oriental head to the legitimate goal, taking advantage of the wrong exit of Ziniti (18) .

Bencharki, Zamalek’s historic scorer

Bencharki became Zamalek’s historic foreign scorer in the African championships, with nine goals, seven of them in the current version, plus 3 assists.
The host team tried to respond quickly, but Malango’s shot went over the goal (19), and the game was limited to midfield in an attempt by Zamalek to absorb the surge of hope. Dangerous header from Sufyan Rahimi (42).

At the start of the second half, Al-Salami took out Ngoma, who was already suffering an injury, and joined Mohamed Al-Mekazi, while Zamalek continued to close his area and reduce the spaces for the speed of Raja’s players, confident on rebound speed led by Bencharki, who failed to exploit many of his outings, then strengthened Al-Salami His attack by inserting Mahmoud Ben Haleeb in place of Mitwalli, and the team’s performance improved relatively.

A good ball appeared in front of Ngah, but his shot from outside the area was blocked by Abu Jeel (66), and the Egyptian goalkeeper shone again before a similar shot to Ngah (67), and Raja demanded a touch with the hand Tariq Hamed, but referee Nayant kept playing.

Then the Raja coach pushed the other forward, Anas Jabroun, who was quick to replace Malango as the team’s chances were stopped in the Egyptian defense.

Pacheco made the first substitution in the 85th minute, when the other Moroccan, Mohamed Onajem, was playing in Obama’s place, and Rahimi almost snatched a draw from hope, but his follow-up to Hafizi’s pass goes through the right post ( 90).

The African Football Confederation announced that the final of the African Champions League, scheduled for November 6, will be held in Cairo, unless Wydad qualifies, and Raja will be held in Casablanca. The hero receives a prize of $ 2.5 million.