CAIRO: A last-minute winner by Amr Al-Safti gave Zamalek a critical 1-0 victory over Mansoura in the Egyptian Premier League on Sunday. The victory, which is Zamalek s third on the trot under coach Hossam Hassan, lifted the White Knights to fifth place with 21 points, four points behind fourth-placed Gaish. The game saw Zamalek striker Ahmed "Mido Hossam limp off after sustaining a back problem and he was substituted in the first half as a result. Mansoura remain in penultimate place on 10 points. The first half of the game was dull, as Zamalek were superior in ball possession but lacked the necessary cutting-edge. Zamalek s firepower was further deteriorated after Mido, who fell down on the ground all of a sudden with no challengers in close proximity, was replaced with off-form Remi Adiko. Mahmoud "Shikabala Abdel-Razeq had the only worth-mentioning scoring opportunity in the first half when he tried his luck from inside the area, but his drive was blocked. After the interval, Mansoura plotted a more attacking strategy to notably step up the match s tempo. First-half substitute Adiko was taken off after putting in a below-par performance. Sherif Ashraf was sent in instead which revived Zamalek s frontline. The second period was much more pulsating than the first, with both sides eager to open the scoring. Hazem Emam cannoned a fierce long-range shot that went inches over the crossbar eight minutes from the hour mark. Mansoura s Wali Mowafi went one-on-one with in-form keeper Abdel-Wahed Al-Sayed, who rose to the occasion to clear his effort with great dexterity. At the other end, Mansoura guardian Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud also shined more than once. He parried a precise Sherif Ashraf free-kick on 68 minutes as well as other efforts though out the game. An Ahmed Gaafar header in the dying minutes hit the post, before Amr Al-Safti scored on the rebound from close range, to earn Zamalek all three points. However, Zamalek s victory was partly marred when midfielder Hassan Mostafa was dismissed deep into stoppage time for two bookable offences.
