Amidu double sink Zamalek as Group B goes to the wire
A second half brace from striker Abbas Amidu inspired Caps United to a 3-1 win over Zamalek on Sunday in Harare, to ensure the race for the quarter-finals goes down to the wire.
The 27-year old scored twice after Ronald Pfumbizai’s 31
The shocking victory, Caps’ second at the group stage moves them to third spot on six points, two shy of joint leaders USM Alger of Algeria and Libya’s Ahly Tripoli. Five-time winners, Zamalek drop to the bottom after bagging just five points from five matches.
Needing nothing short of victory to breathe life into their campaign, “Makepekepe” went up on the half-hour mark through Pfumbizai, to cap a decent afternoon.
Just before the break, Nigerian-import Ohawuchi leveled for the visitors to ensure the second half resumes on an even score.
With action swinging from one side to the other, Amidu volleyed home on 75 minutes to restore the homers lead.
The Egyptians fought back in search of the equalizer, but paid the price for sloppy defending in added-on time when the entire defence moved upfront during a corner. A clearance by the Caps backline gifted Amidu the ball, who ghosted past Ali Gabr before firing past a hapless Ahmed Shenaway to wrap up victory.
Earlier on Saturday, Ahly Tripoli and USM Alger settled for a 1-1 draw in the other Group B clash in Sfax.
Caps travel to Algiers to face USM Alger next week whilst Zamalek battles Ahly Tripoli in Cairo.
Results
Group A
30.06.2017 Omdurman El Merreikh (Sudan) 2-1 El Hilal (Sudan)
01.07.2017 Beira Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique) 1-1 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
Group B
30.06.2017 Sfax Ahly Tripoli (Libya) 1-1 USM Alger (Algeria)
02.07.2017 Harare Caps United (Zimbabwe) 3-1 Zamalek (Egypt)
Group C
01.07.2017 Addis Ababa Saint George (Ethiopia) 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
01.07.2017 Kinshasa AS Vita (DR Congo) 2-2 Esperance (Tunisia)
Group D
01.07.2017 Lusaka Zanaco (Zambia) 0-0 Al Ahly (Egypt)
01.07.2017 Garoua Coton Sport (Cameroon) 0-2 Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)