Cairo - Hisham Shahin
Egyptian club Zamalek
Egyptian club Zamalek repeated their Champions League victory over Maghreb al-Fassi, but the win was marred by a shock scene that saw Shikabala involved in a spat with manager Hassan
Shehata after being substituted.
An easy 4-0 aggregate win sent the Whites to the group stage, but the talking point came in the second half when Zamalek's star Shikabala fumed at his manager following his 65th minute substitution.
Midfielder Ibrahim Salah opened the scoring in the fourth minute as substitute Hazem Emam ensured the victory after the break.
The visitors had defender Said Hammouni dismissed in the first half, but Zamalek failed to maintain their numerical advantage for long as Ahmed Hassan received a second booking after the break.
It was a night to forget for the Egypt skipper, who missed his second successive penalty following Hammouni’s dismissal.
The home side needed just three minutes to open the scoring when Salah’s glancing header found the net from inside the area following a pin-point Shikabala free-kick.
A few minutes later, Shikabala surged into the box from the left before squaring to Hassan, who was pushed by defender Hammouni inside the six-yard box.
Hassan, Egypt’s number one penalty taker, blasted the ensuing spot kick wide.
Zamalek kicked off the second half in a similar fashion to the first, as Emam notched the second goal after being twice denied by the keeper who could do nothing with the third attempt from point-blank range.
Despite the game virtually ending in favour of Shehata’s men, the big win was blemished by an impetuous act from Shikabala.
Shehata decided to take Shikabala off the field following a second caution for simulation, Shikabala remonstrated angrily at his manager after being substituted.
The Egypt international threw away his wristband in anger, while obviously screaming at his manager ‘If you don’t want me in your team, let me go’.
Shika’s shock rant, which came out loud and clear at an empty Military Academy Stadium, evoked memories of the infamous incident involving Mido and Shehata back in 2006.