Smouha will face Cairo giants Zamalek in the Egypt Cup final for the second time in four years after beating Assiouty Sport 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Alexandria on Tuesday.

Alexandria-based club Smouha looked on course of eliminating Assiouty with a 1-0 win when substitute Ahmed Temsah put them ahead with less than 20 minutes remaining.

However, Benson Shilongo converted a stoppage-time penalty to level the score as brave Assiouty revived their hopes of reaching the final after causing a huge upset by ousting title holders and league champions Ahly in the quarter-final.

But Assiouty wasted two spot-kicks in the shootout, with Shilongo having his effort saved by the keeper and defender Ahmed Ouka rattling the bar with his shot.

Smouha will be eyeing their first ever title when they meet Zamalek, who won four Egypt Cups out of the previous five editions and reached the final after crushing Ismaily 4-1 on Monday. The final takes place next Tuesday.

Both sides also met in the 2014 final, with Zamalek securing a 1-0 win.

Dour half

Chances were few and far between in a dour first half but Smouha went close to opening the scoring on a couple of occasions early in the second half.

Striker Hossam Hassan wasted both chances, hitting the side netting from a tight angle before firing over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

Temsah made amends in the 72^nd minute with his first touch after coming on, with his long-range shot bouncing in front of the keeper and into the net to give Smouha a deserved lead.

However, Assiouty leveled the score at the death, with Shilongo sending Al-Mahdi Soliman the wrong way from the spot after he was brought down by the keeper.

But Smouha converted four out of their five spot-kicks to advance to the final.

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