Newcomers Enppi and veteran side Ittihad meet tomorrow in the final of the Egyptian Cup. Mohamed El-Sayed assesses their chances When Mohamed Sharaf of Ittihad hit the winner that put his club in the final of the Egyptian Cup, it was deja vu to the team's supporters -- albeit delayed almost 30 years. Ittihad, the Alex club facing league relegation just two weeks ago, will tomorrow travel to the capital city Cairo, where the final of Egypt's oldest competition is always played, to challenge upstarts Enppi for the cup. Though Enppi are solid favourites, Ittihad have history on their side. Having won the cup six times -- 1926, 1936, 1948, 1963, 1973 and 1976 -- they are the third most capped club behind the country's two powerhouses Ahli and Zamalek. Ittihad last lifted the cup thirty years ago after beating heavy favourites Ahli 1-0. In that game, Talaat Youssef, Ittihad's current coach, scored the winner in what became a fabled incident. Youssef's loosely tied boot flew into the goal after he shot, leaving goalkeeper Ikrami bewildered as to what to save. The goal was allowed and Ittihad hoisted its last cup trophy. Now they aim for number seven. They almost didn't make it. Over two semi-final legs Ittihad and Misri played 180 minutes of futile, scoreless football. The ensuing penalty shootout was just as long-drawn. It took 38 minutes and 22 shots to settle, the longest penalty marathon in living memory. Four players from the visiting side missed while three from the home side couldn't find the target. The final score: 8-7. En route to the final, Ittihad beat Assiut Petrol 1-0 in the first round; defeated El-Gouna 1-0 in the second; and defeated the Army 2-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. The Alexandrians' hopes of regaining their long lost glory will clash with the aspirations of the newly promoted oil company team Enppi who beat Mansoura 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-final on Friday. With only three years experience in the premiership league under their belt, Enppi are already looking to add their names to the chronicle of Egyptian football. Enppi, which proved this season the new emerging power on the scene after finishing second behind the title winners Ahli, will take part next year in the African Champions League. En route to the final, Enppi cruised past Esco 6-1; defeated the Coastal Guards 4-1 in a shoot-out; and beat Telefonat Beni Soueif 2-1 on aggregate in the quarters. Since its inception in 1921, 10 teams have lifted the Egyptian Cup. Ahli are the most capped with 33 trophies (twice shared with Zamalek); Zamalek 20 (twice shared with Ahli); Ittihad six; Tersana six; the Arab Contractors three; Ismaili two; Olympic of Alexandria two; Misri one; Qanah one; and Tram one.
