Zamalek qualifies for last-16 despite Vita Club draw

Zamalek's defensive players secure vital clean sheet in Congo Egyptian football team Zamalek qualified for the last-16 of the African Champions League, with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Congolese side Vita Club, after a 0-0 draw in the second leg in Kinshasa on Saturday. The Cairo club, looking for its first Champions League crown since 2002, survived a few nervy moments at the Stade des Martyrs, to ensure that Ahmed Gafaar's goal in the home leg two weeks ago proved to be crucial strike.
The hosts missed several good chances during the game as Zamalek stopper Abdel Wahed el-Sayed and his backline proved their worth.
Zamalek began the game on the front foot, as they looked to kill off the tie with a crucial away goal. However, it was Club Vita who fashioned the first real opportunity, with defender Salah Suleiman being forced to deflect an effort wide in the 13th minute after a dangerous cross from the left.
Vita Club continued to pile on the pressure, but failed to secure a breakthrough going into half time.
Zamalek's midfield began to take control of the game at the start of the second, but didn't create any notable chances. At the other end, Club Vita almost broke the deadlock when a lob over el-Sayed was superbly cleared by Mahmoud Fathallah off the line in the 56th minute.
Zalamek failed to carve out any dangerous opportunities with striker Abdullah Cisse being caught offside on several occasions, and veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan having a powerful long-range shot tipped over by the keeper.
In the 79th minute, Cisse fired wide from inside the box after he was picked out by Mohamed Ibrahim from the left. However, the miss didn't prove costly and at the final whistle, Zamalek had qualified for the last-16 of the ACL, much to the frustration of their Congolese opponents.