Zamalek crowned CAFCC champions

Zamalek players

Monday May 27, 2019. 08:20

Zamalek are the 2018-19 Caf Confederations Cup champions after beating RS Berkane 5-3 on penalties at Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Sunday evening.

The White Knights prevailed 1-0 in regulation time to tie the game up 1-1 on aggregate and duly send the match to a penalty shootout.

The Egyptian giants were faultless from the spot, convening all five of their spot-kicks as they clinched a 10th African trophy in their history. The title is their first continental crown in 16 years.

RS Berkane were the better side in the first-half, but were overpowered by the White Knights for most of the second in front of a packed crowd on the the Mediterranean coast.

Zamalek improved as the game progressed and were handed a way back into the tie following an inexcusable handball from Larbi Naji in the 55th minute. The referee left with no choice but to point to the spot following VAR review, after seeing the Berkane player diving to his left to 'save' the ball with his hand.

Mahmoud Alaaeldin duly dispatched the spot kick past the Berkane shot-stopper to send the home fans into ecstasy.

Zamalek dominated the closing stages of the match while the Oranges had Omar Namsaoui sent off late on after he struck an opposing player in the face.

With the scores deadlocked on aggregate the game headed to penalties where Hamdi Laachir missed the Moroccan's opening penalty. The miss proved costly as Zamalek went on to clinch the CAFCC title.

Zamalek (0) 1 (Alaaeldin 55')

RS Berkane (0) 0

1-1 on aggregate, Zamalek won 5-3 on penalties.

Zamalek: Elrehim; Hamed, Alaaeldin, Ghany, Obama, Kahraba, Hassan (Zizo 70'), Ahadad (Boutaib 88'), Ibrahim (Hussein 83'), Gomaa, Hamdy.

RS Berkane: M'Hamdi; Dayo, Naji, Mokadem, El Kess (Oueld El Haj 84'), El Helali (Regragui 90+4'), Namsaoui, Aziz, Ouidare (Farehane 69'), Laachir, Fo-Doh Laba,