CAIRO — Zamalek came from behind to snatch a late victory from Modern Future FC in the first-leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash played at Cairo’s Al-Salam Stadium.
A stellar performance by Zamalek’s winger Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’ saw him provide an assist for Tunisian defender Hamza Mahlouthi before getting the all-important win that cancelled out Future’s Khaled Abdelhamid’s opener, as the White Knights walked away 2-1 victors.
The second leg of the quarterfinal will also take place at Cairo Stadium next Sunday, cafonline.com reported.
The former CAF Confederation Cup champions were all over their opponents who did well to absorb the pressure in throughout the tie.
It was Zamalek who first showed probing signs as the ever-green Mahmoud Abdel Raziq ‘Shikabala’ almost opened the scoring with a brilliant solo run in the 27th minute, but saw his strike saved by an alert Mahmoud Elrhim.
The lead unexpectedly came for Future who after absorbing most of the pressure broke in transition which concluded with Mohamed Salama laying off a perfect ball for Khaled Abdelhamid who found the opener against his former club.
With just seconds to the break and Future looking at going into the break with the lead, the White Knights showed their pedigree as Mahlouthi headed home the equalizer from a delightful corner by Ahmed Sayed.
Returning from the back, the 2018/19 champions continued surging forward in search of the lead and were almost rewarded early into the second-half after Shikabala again eliminated numbers to set himself up for a long-distance strike which was met by the safe hands of Elrhim.
The lead did eventually come in the dying minutes of the game after the troublesome Zamalek’s Tunisian international striker Seifeddine Jaziri was brought down in the box for the referee to point to the spot kick, as Sayed capped off a five-star performance with a conversion that took his goal tally in the competition to four.
Elsewhere, Abu Salim SC held former champions RS Berkane of Morocco to a goalless draw in a simultaneous fixture played in Libya.
While the result may a disappointing for the Libyan side who gave it their all against the Moroccans, they will head to the return leg with their heads held high from the positive performance against the two-time champions.
Rivers United, meanwhile, secured a crucial 1-0 victory over USM Alger of Algeria in the first-leg of the quarter-final clash in Nigeria.
Augustine Okejepha emerged as the hero for the home side, breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute with a clinical strike from the edge of the box at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Abubakar Adamu’s well-executed assist from a corner kick set the stage for Okejepha’s decisive goal, putting the home side in the lead.
Despite USM Alger’s efforts to contain Rivers United, the Nigerian team’s physical dominance proved to be a significant factor throughout the game.
USM Alger struggled to match the intensity of their opponents who looked eager to score more goals.
However, the arrival of rain after 70 minutes provided a brief respite for the Algerian side, allowing them to regroup and minimize the damage to a single-goal deficit by the final whistle.
Looking ahead to the second leg in Algiers on April 7, USM Alger face an uphill battle as they seek to overturn the deficit and secure passage to the semi-finals.
With home advantage on their side, USM Alger will be determined to mount a strong comeback and keep their hopes alive in the competition but judging by the performance of Rivers United, they will also put up a strong challenge in Algiers next week.
The stakes are high for USM Alger, with qualification to the next round offering an opportunity to continue their title defence and pursue continental glory.
Experienced striker John Antwi proved instrumental as Dreams FC clinched a remarkable 2-1 triumph over 10-man Stade Malien in Bamako, showcasing their mettle in the quarter-finals.
Antwi’s heroics stole the spotlight as he netted a brace to propel the Ghanaian side to victory on foreign soil in the first leg clash in Mali.
The away triumph marks a significant milestone in their maiden continental campaign, underscoring their determination to make an impact on the continental stage ahead of the second-leg next week.
Thev result means Stade Malien face an uphill battle as they seek to overturn the deficit away from home and salvage their hopes of progression in the competition.
Trailing initially to a Yoro Diaby free-kick, Dreams FC rallied courageously, with Antwi leading the charge.
In the 66th minute, Antwi ignited his team’s resurgence with a clinical finish past N’Golo Traoré, breathing new life into Dreams FC’s aspirations.
Buoyed by the equalizer, the Ghanaians intensified their onslaught, exposing Stade Malien’s defensive frailties.
The turning point arrived in the 74th minute when Antwi calmly dispatched a penalty, awarded after Issa Yacoubou’s handball, to complete his brace and secure a vital lead for Dreams FC.
Stade Malien’s hopes suffered a severe blow as Fadi Sidiki Coulibaly received a red card, reducing his side to ten men for the remainder of the encounter.
The numerical disadvantage compounded Stade Malien’s woes, ahead of the return leg in Kumasi next week.
With momentum on their side, Dreams FC sets their sights on the return fixture, aiming to capitalize on their advantage and secure passage to the semi-finals.
