Defender Mahmoud Hamdi scored a last gasp 95th minute equalizer as Egyptian giants Zamalek rose from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Angolan side Petro Atletico in the 2022 CAF Champions League Group D opener at Cairo International Stadium.
Petro had gone into a 2-0 lead by halftime with goals from Gleison and Vidinho, but the White Knights fought back with Ibrahim ‘Obama’ Youssef halving the deficit just 10 minutes after coming on before Hamdi won a point at the death.
The Angolan side had started better and shocked Zamalek, getting into a 2-0 lead after 36 minutes with two almost similar goals.
Gleison broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a simple finish inside the box off Jaredi’s cutback from the left. The winger would then create the second in the 36th minute in similar fashion with Vidinho finishing.
In the second-half, Zamalek made changes with Obama and Shikabala coming in for Maged Hany and Mohamed Ounajem. Achraf Bencharki almost scored but was denied by the woodwork when he struck the post with a low shot unmarked inside the box.
But, the combination of the two substitutes bore Zamalek’s first goal, the duo exchanging passes inside the box before Obama struck into the net.
Petro had a chance to restore their two goal cushion almost immediately when Jaredi broke the offside trap and ran one on one with Mohamed Abou Gabal, but Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations star goalkeeper plucked away his attempted chip.
Pedro Pessoa also came close for Petro with a well curling freekick from the edge of the area but it went inches over, cafonline reported.
Obama had a chance for a second in the 67th minute but his lone header from the edge of the six yard box went inches wide.
Zamalek kept fighting and they got the goal in the fifth minute of added time when Hamdi’s deflected shot skipped into the net.
Raja pips AmaZulu
Skipper Mohsine Moutaouali scored the lone goal of the match as Raja Club Athletic got their Group B campaign off on a flier with a slim 1-0 victory over South African debutants AmaZulu.
The captain scored in the 67th minute with the victory taking Raja top of the group with three points, same as Algeria’s ES Setif who had earlier on beaten Horoya by a similar margin in Conakry.
Raja dominated most of the games with the South Africans choosing to sit back and soak in the pressure.
The home side was denied by the woodwork in the 13th minute when Marouane Hadhoudi rose well inside the box to connect to a cross from the right but it came off the foot of the post. Beni Badibanga picked up the rebound but his effort at goal was deflected for a corner.
In the 27th minute, Raja came close when Moutaouali sent Kadima Kabangu through on goal, but the Congolese’s shot was saved by the keeper for a corner. Kabangu had another opportunity in the 44th minute but once again his shot was kept out by the AmaZulu keeper.
The visitors had a golden opportunity at the stroke of halftime when Makhehleni Makaula picked the ball inside the box, but his shot came off the upright.
In the second half, Raja were faster off the blocks and they got into the lead in the 67th minute when Moutaouali scored with a shot through the keeper’s legs after a beautiful change of passes with Zakaria El Wardi.
The Green Eagles managed to get a good hold of the game after their solitary strike and ensured they saw it till the end to pick three points at home.
Results
Zamalek 2-2 Petro de Luanda
Horoya AC 0-1 ES Setif
Raja Casablanca 1-0 AmaZulu
Esperance de Tunis 4-0 Jwaneng Galaxy
