Zamalek's striker Mahmoud Shikabala (Photo: Bassam Al-Zoghby)
Egypt’s Zamalek, missing several key players, were undone by a first-half penalty as Congo’s AC Leopards claimed a deserved 1-0 victory in Sunday’s African Champions League tie in Dolisie.
Ntela Kalema’s spot-kick was enough to hand Leopards all three points after they settled for a goalless draw with South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in their opening Group A game of Africa’s premier club competition.
Zamalek defender Mahmoud Fathallah was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for the handball that gifted Leopards the penalty, leaving the ailing Cairo giants with an uphill climb on a muddy pitch.
The success-starved Zamalek, who threw away their lead to draw 1-1 with Cairo rivals Ahly in their opening group-stage game, had to do without several regular players, including suspended duo Salah Soliman and Nour El-Sayed.
The team’s three-man makeshift midfield, which comprised of attacking-minded duo Omar Gaber and Eslam Awad, gave room for Leopards forwards to operate freely and run unopposed towards the area on several occasions.
Zamalek’s stand-in goalkeeper Mahmoud Abdel-Rehim “Gennesh”, making a rare start due to the absence of skipper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed, palmed an angled shot from Rooi Mahamutsa midway through the first half but he was powerless to prevent the hosts from opening the scoring in the 34th minute.
Fathallah blocked a shot with his flailing arm, earning a second yellow card and gifting Leopards a penalty, which Kalema coolly converted to put his side ahead and spark wild celebrations in the stands.
The scarcity of grass on a poor pitch made it hard for Zamalek to muster any efforts. Fasting in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has also sapped their energy as the game wore on.
The visitors relatively improved following the introduction of pacy winger Hazem Emam but it was Leopards who could have scored again, wasting some clear-cut chances in the latter stages including a free header by Arouna Drame that went just wide.
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