In scintillating style, Ahli beat Zamalek in Egypt's football cup final, the two teams producing one of the best derbies seen in years. Ahmed Morsy reports Ahli won the Egyptian Cup title for the second successive year by defeating Zamalek 4-3 in a thrilling, see-saw encounter in Cairo Stadium on Monday. Three times Zamalek had the lead, only to ultimately go down thanks to a brace by substitute Osama Hosni in extra time. Zamalek striker Amr Zaki broke the deadlock five minutes after the re-start when he made good use of a long upfield kick by goalkeeper Mohamed Abdel-Munsif and a dreadful confusion by defenders Shadi Mohamed, Emad El-Nahhas and goalkeeper Amir Abdel-Hamid. Seven minutes later, Emad Meteb, who had not scored since mid-February, ended his personal drought with a powerful shot into the top corner of the net. In the 65th minute, substitute Shikabala, formerly of Greek outfit Paok Saloniki, regained Zamalek's lead with a superb left-footer that sailed by Abdel-Hamid, himself a second string goalie replacing Essam El-Hadari for the entire cup series. Zamalek were gearing up to celebrate their first title of any kind in three years but Mohamed Abou- Treika had other ideas when, left all alone, he fired from close range to even the score 2-2 with just four minutes left. Once again, in the 10th minute of extra time, Zamalek took the lead when Gamal Hamza, who had done nothing of note up until then, had the Ahli net rattling with a pile driver from 20 metres. Hosni, who had squandered a sure goal in regulation time, made amends in the 107th and the 109th minutes with two perfectly timed headers for the tying and winning goals. The win gave Ahli the double for the second straight year. It also avenged Zamalek's 2-0 victory over a depleted Ahli squad in the league season, the last time the two teams had met. Despite the loss and the departure from this season with no hardware, Zamalek's supporters remained in Cairo Stadium, even as Ahli's players were picking up their medals, in appreciation of their team's efforts. Zamalek coach, former French team manager Henri Michel, surprisingly left out Shikabala out of his starting line-up although the talented player was labeled as Zamalek's major threat. On the other hand, Ahli's Portuguese coach Manuel Jose stuck with the formation he used against Ismaili in the semi-final. The Spanish referee Alfonso Peres Petrol, who had red carded the likes of Ronaldinho and David Beckham in 20 La Liga games this season, continued to flash the red card, this time to Zaki towards the end after the player vehemently complained about a call. The Red Devils ended a memorable season, having won the league, the cup and the African Champions League as well as finishing third in the World Club Championship in Japan. Ahli reached the final of the Egyptian Cup after an easy 2-0 home win over Ismaili in the semi-final. Zamalek's road to the final was made surprisingly difficult by relegated Petrol Assiut in a hard fought 1-0 win. Over the past two years, Ahli has collected 10 titles, maintaining a 100 per cent record in the Egyptian league and cup, the Super Cup and the African Champions League and African Super Cup. Monday's win gave Ahli 101 major football crowns in this, its 100th anniversary. It was the 76th cup final in Egypt's history and the 35th time Ahli lifts the trophy. Twenty times the cup went to Zamalek. Previously, Ahli and Zamalek had met 21 times in cup action, with Ahli winning 11 times, Zamalek seven and three matches tied. Ahli has not lost to Zamalek in a cup game since 1959. The streak continues. The two shared the cup twice after drawing in the 1950s because there was no extra time or penalty tie-breakers at the time.
