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Off-color Zamalek lose at Mazembe in Champions League Zamalek lose at Mazembe to slip to the bottom of Group A, as the Whites succumb to their second away loss in a row
An out-of-sorts Zamalek side could not avoid a 1-0 defeat at DR Congo's Mazembe in the Champions League on Sunday. A first-half goal from midfielder Rainford Kalaba was enough to give the hosts all three points as the below-par Zamalek failed to overturn their trailing throughout. It is the third successive win over Zamalek for the four-time African champions Mazembe, who remain undefeated on their home turf for the 17thyear running. Right after the final whistle, a furious Zamalek bench raced onto the pitch towards the referee to express their unsatisfaction with his performance. Mazembe now top Group A with six points, two ahead of Sudanese side Hilal and Congo's Vita Club, as the Whites slide to the bottom of the table on three points. Sloppy goal The hosts were in control from the outset and their early pressure paid off when Kalaba broke the deadlock after 13 minutes, albeit in scruffy fashion. Solomon Asante was allowed to burst into the right-hand side of the area as full-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafy failed to clear his eventual cut back, which found the unmarked Kalaba, whose poor effort eluded defender Mahmoud Fathallah on the goal line. Mazembe continued to have the upper hand all during the half, with Zamalek struggling to keep up with the Congolese side's pace throughout. Even so, Zamalek were able to threaten down the right, with Omar Gaber and Hazem Emam launching forays from the flank but their eventual crosses usually found no one – as lone frontman Dominique da Silva barely delivered the goods. Zamalek keeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed was called into action one minute past the hour mark when he thwarted Daniel Adjei Nii's shot from outside the box. Dull performance, tensions flare The second-half didn't bring a different scenario despite Zamalek manager Mido replacing the ineffectual da Silva with striker Ahmed Ali nine minutes into the second half. With the five-time African champions still struggling in the final third, Mido made another substitution in an attempt to increase his firepower, throwing in centre forward Ahmed Gaafar and winger Ahmed Samir Farag. Despite slightly improving, Zamalek failed to trouble the keeper much and lost their second successive away game in the competition's group stage as tensions flared after the final whistle. (For more sports news and updates,followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/103201.aspx
