Zamalek overcome Al-Ahly 2-1 to win Egypt Cup for 28th time

Zamalek lifted the Egypt Cup for the 28th time on Thursday with a deserved 2-1 win over their arch-rivals Al-Ahly in the final in Cairo.

Ahmed El-Sayed and Emam Ashour scored in the first half as the White Knights took control of the match, and while Al-Ahly pulled a goal back through Hossam Hassan 10 minutes into the second half, they were unable to get back on level terms.

As this was the delayed 2021 final, it means that the White Knights have completed the double after winning last season’s league title. It is the club’s fourth such achievement following twin triumphs in 1960, 1988 and 2015. The latter double was achieved by current coach Jesualdo Ferreira. 

Al-Ahly now have to focus on catching Zamalek in the league and, with about a third of the season remaining, are nine points behind the leaders with two games in hand. On this performance, however, the task may be beyond the Red Giants as they were swept aside in the first half when their neighbors could have been out of sight.

The first goal came after six minutes and it is one that Al-Ahly star Mohammed El-Shenawy will not want to see again. Egypt’s international goalkeeper came running out of his area in an attempt to clear but was then left in no-man’s land when he was beaten to the ball by Seifeddine Jazira, who then crossed for El-Sayed to head into the empty net.

El-Shenawy was able to redeem himself as Zamalek continued to pile on the pressure, making a great double save from Mahmoud Hamdy 10 minutes later but was beaten again on the half hour. Ashour exchanged passes with El-Sayed on the edge of the area and then curled a low shot into the far corner.

Al-Ahly were stunned and their first attempt on goal came just before the break as Aliou Dieng