Confederation Cup: Zamalek thrashed as Ahly lose in semis

Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia stunned Egyptian double winners Zamalek on Sunday to virtually clinch a place in the Confederation Cup final.

Zamalek's Egyptian rivals Al Ahly also lost their semi-final first leg going down 1-0 to Orlando Pirates of South Africa in Soweto.

Ahly have home advantage for the second leg next Sunday in Suez while Zamalek host Etoile a day earlier in Cairo.

The two-legged final is set for the 20-22 November and a week later.

Marouane Tej scored twice and Baghdad Bounedjah, Alaya Brigui and substitute Saddam Ben Aziza once for the 2015 Tunisian league runners-up.

Ayman Hefny had halved a two-goal deficit with a goal midway through the first period, but it was a rare moment of joy for the Egyptian league and cup holders.

Etoile had scored just four goals in three group games en route to the last four of the tournament, while Zamalek had conceded just three goals in three away group games.

An early goal gave South Africa's Orlando Pirates a 1-0 victory over Al Ahly of Egypt on Saturday in their semi-final first leg.

Thamsanqa Gabuza was the ninth minute match winner against the title holders on a warm evening at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

The tall striker connected with a low cross and, from an acute angle, steered the ball with his right foot just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy.

"Our first priority was to win without conceding a goal at home and we achieved that," said Pirates coach and former South Africa midfielder Eric Tinkler.

"We wanted to catch Ahly through counter-attacks, but our plan largely failed because we played the ball to the feet of our attackers instead of over the Egyptian defence.

"It is half-time in the tie and we are one goal ahead. Now we have to protect that lead and try and score some away goals."

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Match facts: Etoile du Sahel 5 - Zamalek 1 (Confederation Cup semi final)

Ahram online provided a live score coverage for Sunday's match between Egypt's Zamalek and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi final

Full time: Etoile du Sahel 5-1 Zamalek
Scorers: Marouane Tej 5, 83 Baghdad Bounedjah 10, Alaya Brigui 35, Saddam Ben Aziza 87/ Ayman Hefny 25

Yellow cards: 

Ammar Jemal,  Hamza Lahmar (Etoile du Sahel)
Ayman Hefni, Ali Gabr, Bassem Morsi (Zamalek)

Starting lineups:

Etoile du Sahel: Aymen Mathlouthi, Ghazi Abderrazak, Ammar Jemal, Saddam Ben Aziza, Hamdi Nagguez, Alaya Brigui, Aymen Trabelsi, Marouane Tej (Rami Bedoui 89), Hamza Lahmar, Iheb Msakni (Mehdi Saada 56), Baghdad Bounedjah.

Zamalek: Ahmed El-Shenawy - Ali Gabr, Mohamed Koffi, Hamada Tolba (Mohamed Adel 39), Hazem Emam - Omar Gaber, Tarek Hamed, Maarouf Yussuf (Moustafa Fathi 46),  Ayman Hefni (Ahmed Hammoudi 76) - Mahmoud Kahraba, Bassem Morsi.

Venue: Stade Olympique Sousse

Referee: Bernard Camille

Post-match commentary : Zamalek vs Étoile

Zamalek’s spokesman and coaches weigh in on the club moving forward in the Confederation Cup semi-final after a heavy loss. 

Following Zamalek’s 5-1 bludgeoning to Étoile du Sahel, the club’s management say they have hopes of a staging comeback but refuse to do so in front of an empty stadium.

Yesterday, Zamalek spokesman Ahmed Mortada Mansour told Egyptian media that authorities wouldallow 15,000 Egyptian fans into the the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final in Cairo.

But after today’s loss, Mansour said that the club would refuse to play the final match if authorities back down on their promise to allow spectators.

“Zamalek will not play in Egypt in front of the stars,” Mansour said, adding that he hopes to see both Egyptian and Tunisian fans present at the last leg of the semi-final round. 

With less than a week’s turn around, the White Castle will have to put today’s performance out of mind in order to overcome the four-goal deficit.

“The verdict does not turn in the protection of Zamalek players,” said Ismail Youssef, adding that the White Castle were able to beat the Orlando Pirates 4-1 on two occasions during the tournament’s group stage.

Youssef said he is confident the club will be able to muster a similar scoreline next Saturday when Zamalek return to Cairo to face Étoile du Sahel.

Head coach Jesualdo Ferreira likened the match to a “horror movie” in statements following the match.

“I am embarrassed for the players in the loss,” Ferreira said, adding that the team will play a worthy next match despite the difficulty.

The last time Zamalek surrendered five goals in an African match was in 1987 against Ghanian outfit Asante Kotoko.