Zamalek striker Nasser Mansi celebrates after scoring the equalizer for his side in the victory over Pyramids FC in Egypt Cup final on Thursday. Photo: Zamalek's official X account.
Winger Ahmed Atef opened the scoring for Pyramids FC in the 29th minute, but striker Nasser Mansi equalized for Zamalek in the 78th minute.
Zamalek had two chances to win the penalty shootout earlier, as substitute keeper Sherif Ekramy blocked attempts from Mostafa Shalaby and Mansi. However, team skipper and fan-favorite Mahmoud "Shikabala" Abdel-Razek ultimately sealed the deal with the decisive penalty.
This win comes to salvage a poor season that saw Zamalek struggling with off-the-pitch troubles, leading the team to finish third in the league and suffer an early elimination from the Confederation Cup.
The match started with an aggressive approach, as Zamalek came alive in the opening minutes thanks to the movements of Mostafa Shalaby and Seifeddin Jaziri. Pyramids players relied on high pressing against the White Knights.
As time passed, Pyramids, who won their first African Champions League title four days ago, began to find their rhythm. In the ninth minute, the first chance for the Sky Blues came from a header by Marwan Hamdy, but the ball went over the crossbar. In the thirteenth minute, El-Wench nearly scored the opening goal for Zamalek with a header, but Ahmed El-Shenawy made a crucial save.
In the 30th minute, Ahmed Atef managed to score the opening goal for Pyramids with a header that found the right side of Mohamed Sobhi's goal.
In the 43rd minute, Abdullah El-Said fired a powerful shot from outside the Pyramids penalty area, but it sailed over Ahmed El-Shenawy's crossbar.
Zamalek tried to capitalize on the remaining time to equalize, while the Sky Blues sought to extend their lead, but to no avail, ending the first half with Pyramids leading 1-0.
At the start of the second half, Zamalek's coaching staff brought on Nasser Mansi and Nasser Maher in place of Jaziri and Nabil Emad, as the Whites attacked to level the score.
Marwan Hamdy squandered a golden opportunity to double Pyramids' lead in the 51st minute with a header that went just wide of the right post.
In the 52nd minute, Nasser Mansi had a chance to equalize when he broke through on goal, but his shot from inside the penalty area was saved by Ahmed El-Shenawy.
Mostafa Shalaby missed a clear chance to score the equalizer for Zamalek in the 60th minute after he penetrated the penalty area but shot over the bar. In the 64th minute, Zamalek's coaching staff substituted Mahmoud Bentaïg for Seif Jaafar.
In the 79th minute, Nasser Mansi scored the equalizer for Zamalek after receiving a pass from Ahmed Fattouh, breaking free and placing the ball in the net just as Ahmed El-Shenawy came out. In the 83rd minute, Pyramids made a forced substitution, bringing on Sherif Ikrami for the injured Ahmed El-Shenawy, while Zamalek introduced Shikabala in place of Abdullah El-Said.
In the 89th minute, Mostafa El-Zenari came on for Omar Gaber, and both teams sought to score a winning goal in the final minutes, but to no avail, leading to a draw at the end of regular time and forcing both teams into extra time.
At the start of the first extra period, Pyramids' coaching staff introduced Youssef Obama in place of Mohannad Lashin.
Both teams continued to push for a goal, with Pyramids controlling the game somewhat in this half, but without threatening Mohamed Sobhi's goal, ending the half in a 1-1 draw.
Zamalek came alive at the beginning of the second extra period, with Mohamed Sobhi making a brilliant save in the 113th minute, denying Mostafa Fathi's shot from inside the Zamalek penalty area.
Zamalek's coaching staff then substituted Mohamed Awaad for Mohamed Sobhy, as both teams tried to make the most of the remaining time to score, but again, to no avail, leading to a penalty shootout where Zamalek veteran captain Mahmoud 'Shikabala' Abdel-Razik scored the 8th spot kick.
Coach Ayman El Ramady may have played his last game with the team as he had been appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season.
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