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 Mido 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. Dull First Half 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. Shikabala 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.
Al-Safti hit the winner 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. Pulsating 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 Abdul-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.
