Emam Ashour and Mohamed “Afsha” Magdi netted two crucial late goals as Ahly secured a 2-0 victory over Zamalek in Saudi Arabia on Friday, clinching their 39th Egypt Cup title.
In the 86th minute, Ashour broke the deadlock by seizing upon a perfectly timed run, calmly slotting the ball home from close range. Then, in injury time, Afsha, who came on as a second-half substitute, unleashed a precisely placed shot from outside the box that eluded Zamalek’s goalkeeper.
This historic final marked the inaugural occasion of the Egypt Cup being held outside of Egypt, with Saudi Arabia serving as the host for the 91st edition of the tournament.
Despite Zamalek’s strong first-half performance, highlighted by Mostafa Shalaby’s threatening attempts on goal, which were thwarted twice by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, they failed to find the breakthrough. Additionally, Nasser Mansi missed a golden opportunity with a close-range header early in the second half.
Ahly, initially grappling to find their rhythm until the hour mark, elevated their performance when it counted the most. The standout performer of the match, Ashour, not only scored a crucial goal but also played the role of provider, assisting Afsha in sealing the title. This triumph not only secured the cup for Ahly but also granted them the significant prize money of $950,000.
With this win, the Red Devils solidified their position as cup champions, extending their lead to 11 titles over Zamalek, who maintain their second-place position in the historical records with 28 titles to their credit.
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