Zamalek have defeated Maghreb Fez 2-0 Zamalek have defeated Maghreb Fez 2-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League round of 16 in Morocco on Saturday, bringing them yet closer to securing passage to the quarterfinals.
A late header by Zamalek's midfielder Ahmed Hassan in the 78thminute gave the Egyptian giants the upper hand.
Substitute Ahmed Gafar doubled the score one minute before the end of the match when he made a counter-attack, reassuring his team of their position for the second leg in Cairo.
Zamalek, who won the last of their five Champions League triumphs in 2002, was dominated by the Moroccan side during the first half with the latter close to snatching a goal in the 23rdminute when Maghreb Fez's winger El-Mahdi passed the ball to Zamalek's danger zone only to be thwarted by Zamalek's defence .
In the second half, the Cairo giants' players did their best to get the upper hand but their efforts were denied by Maghreb Fez's defences until Egypt and Zamalek star Ahmed Hassan diverted a ball from Ibrahim Salah to score the opener for Zamalek in the 78th minute.
Under the helm of tactician Shehata, Zamalek succeeded in upping pressure on the Morocco's side defence when he substituted Amr Zaki for Ahmed Ga'far in the 85thminute, with the latter scoring his team's second goal in the 89thminute.
Zamalek suffered a disruption to their preparation for the African showdown as all football competitions in Egypt have been suspended since the Port Said disaster on 1 February.
Moreover, they also had to do without first choice goalkeeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed who is suspended while second choice goalie Mahmoud Abdel-Rehim "Genish" is still recovering from injury.
The Egyptian giants are set to host Maghreb Fez in the second leg in Cairo in two weeks' time.