Photo courtesy of Smouha Facebook page.
The White Knights advanced to this round with a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over Modern Sport last Saturday, while Smouha clinched a 1-0 win over ZED FC in the last-16 on 17 January.
Tunisian striker Seifeddine Jaziri opened the scoring for Zamalek 12 minutes into the first half, but Smouha’s Mohamed ‘Mido’ Mostafa leveled the score 13 minutes later.
However, the Alexandria-based side then took the lead in the second minute of first-half added time through Mohamed Salem.
Fourteen minutes into the second half, Smouha’s Barakat Haggag inadvertently scored an own goal, leveling the score for the White Knights.
Moroccan defender Mahmoud Bentayg then unleashed a rocket from outside the area to give Zamalek the lead in the 61st minute.
Second-half substitute winger Mostafa Shalaby secured the victory for Zamalek in the fifth minute of added time from close range, following a fast break and a brilliant cross from star player Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed.
Zamalek will now face Ceramica Cleopatra in the semi-finals on Friday, 28 March, after Ceramica defeated Gouna 3-1 earlier in the competition.
The White Knights, who hold a 28 Egypt Cup titles, aim to reclaim the trophy following last year’s shock exit, where they fell 5-3 to Talae El-Geish on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals.
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