Mansi treble gives fallen giants Zamalek dramatic win

The Egyptians brought down Sudan’s Al Merrikh 4-3 in the intense African Champions League rubber

JOHANNESBURG:

Nasser Mansi completed his hat-trick with the added-time winner as Egyptian giants Zamalek shaded Al Merrikh of Sudan 4-3 on Friday in a dramatic CAF Champions League dead rubber. 

Victory in the final match for both clubs lifted fallen African giants Zamalek one place to third in Group D, but only the top two finishers advance to the quarter-finals. 

Leaders Esperance of Tunisia host second-placed Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria on Saturday, holding a one-point advantage ahead of a match that will decide who tops the final standings. 

Zamalek, whose last of five Champions League titles came in 2002, got off to a flying start with Mostafa Shalaby and Mansi scoring within three minutes. 

Ramadan Agab quickly reduced the deficit and Al Jezoli Nouh and Brazilian Paulo Sergo scored early in the second half to put Merrikh ahead. 

Mansi levelled with a header midway through the second half and a superb Abdallah Hassan pass set him up for a 94th-minute winner. 

With little at stake, both sides showed a dramatic improvement in front of goal after Zamalek had scored just three times in five previous group matches and Merrikh only two. 

In another dead rubber, Horoya of Guinea put a seven-goal drubbing by Simba of Tanzania in their previous Group C match behind them to defeat Vipers of Uganda 2-0 in neutral Bamako. 

Yakhouba Barry took advantage of a handling lapse by goalkeeper Jack Komakech to back-heel the Conakry outfit into an early lead and an added-time goal from Sory Traore sealed third place. 

The match was staged in the Malian capital because Horoya do not have an international-standard stadium. 

Six fixtures on Saturday will complete the group phase of the premier African club competition with Egypt's Al Ahly and Al Hilal of Sudan battling in Cairo for the last quarter-final spot