Mostafa Fathi saves Zamlek’s Cup dream with a late goal | VIDEO
Holders Zamalek needed a last-gasp goal from Mostafa Fathi to scrape into the Egypt Cup last eight with a 2-1 victory over Ittihad El-Shorta and Cairo rivals Ahly also went through after overcoming Haras El-Hodoud with the same scoreline on Tuesday.
Fathi, who was linked with a loan move to Italian side Bologna before Zamalek reportedly rejected the offer, made a trademark surging run towards the area in the fifth minute of stoppage time, sneaking in between two challengers to place a beautiful right-footed low shot into the bottom corner.
Midfielder Ibrahim Abdel-Khalek put Zamalek ahead on the quarter-hour mark with a looping shot from inside the area before El-Shorta’s Mostafa Shammama converted a penalty on the stroke of halftime to restore parity.
Zamalek, who are eyeing a fourth consecutive cup triumph, wasted several goal-scoring chances against El-Shorta, who were relegated from the Egyptian Premier League this season, before the 22-year-old Fathi came to their rescue just before the final whistle.