Egypt’s Al Ahly claimed its fifteenth Egyptian Tremendous Cup title on Thursday, 24 October, after defeating their historic rivals Zamalek 7-6 in a tense penalty shootout in Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The match remained goalless by way of common and additional time, resulting in the decisive penalty shootout.
Al Ahly dominated the primary half, pressuring Zamalek’s protection repeatedly. Hussein El Shahat practically opened the scoring within the eighth minute, however a pointy save from Zamalek’s Mohamed Awaad stored the sport degree.
Al Ahly continued to threaten, with Yahia Attiat Allah and Wessam Abou Ali each hitting the put up from free-kicks, whereas the white knights ’sole alternative, a purpose by Seifeddin Jaziri, was overturned by VAR for offside.
All through the second half, Al Ahly struggled to capitalize on their possibilities, with misses from Emam Ashour, Taher Mohamed, and Akram Tawfik. Zamalek got here near a late victory when Ahmed “Zizo” El Sayed arrange Jaziri, who narrowly missed from shut vary.
After the additional time, the match went to penalties. El Shenawy’s preliminary save from Hamza Mathlouthi gave Ahly an edge, however rigidity mounted as Ahly’s Reda Slim missed, permitting Zamalek again in.
Goalkeeper and captain Mohamed El Shenawy emerged because the hero for Al Ahly, making two essential saves within the shootout, together with a decisive block towards Mahmoud “Shikabala” Abdel-Razek.
Omar Gaber’s closing miss off the crossbar sealed Ahly’s 7-6 victory, securing their fifteenth Egyptian Tremendous Cup title and a USD 250,000 (EGP 12 million) prize.
The sport passed off amid controversy, as three Zamalek crew members had been detained by Abu Dhabi police days earlier than the match following an altercation with safety officers throughout their earlier match towards Pyramids FC on 20 October.
In gentle of this incident, Zamalek had weighed the choice of withdrawing from the Tremendous Cup event fully, including rigidity to the buildup of the conflict with Al Ahly.
