Egypt’s Zamalek pressing to reach quarterfinals of African Champions League

The match was part of the fourth round of Group D in the tournament.
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Updated 08 March 2023
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Egypt’s Zamalek pressing to reach quarterfinals of African Champions League

  • The match was part of the fourth round of Group D in the tournament

Riyadh: Egyptian football team Zamalek are fighting for a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals of the African Champions League after achieving their first victory over Tunisia’s Al-Taraji 3-1 on Tuesday.

The match was part of the fourth round of Group D in the tournament, which also witnessed Algerian club Chabab Belouizdad defeating Al-Merrikh from Sudan 1-0.

Zamalek advanced in the eighth minute, after a powerful shot from Saif Farouk Jaafar that hit the head of Al-Taraji player Coulibaly Bocar rebounded into goal. 

The second goal came in the 29th minute from a penalty kick by Ahmed Sayed Zizo, ending the first half with Zamalek advancing with two clean goals.

In the second half, Al-Taraji cut the deficit at the 57th minute through Riyad Bin Ayada, who received a through pass inside the penalty area and met it with a powerful shot into goal.

However, Zamalek scored the third goal in the first minute of stoppage time, when Ahmed Sayed Zizo executed a cross from the right side, which Seifeddine Jaziri met with a header into goal.

Zamalek reached four points in third place, and Al-Taraji’s balance stopped at nine points in the lead.

In the second match, Algerian club Chabab Belouizdad defeated Al-Merrikh with a clean goal scored by Mohamed Islam Bakir in the 35th minute.

Belouizdad raised its tally to six points in second place, and Al-Merrikh stopped at four points in the fourth place, with goal difference placing the side behind Zamalek.


Maresca ‘relaxed’ about Chelsea’s rough patch

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Maresca ‘relaxed’ about Chelsea’s rough patch

  • Chelsea boss Maresca was Friday named Premier League manager of the month for November
  • “For us November was fantastic. December, we didn’t start in the way we would like, even if it’s just one week ago we played Leeds, ” Maresca said

LONDON: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he was “completely relaxed” about his side’s dip in form as he seeks greater consistency ahead of Saturday’s home match against Everton.
The Blues thumped Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League on November 25 and earned an impressive 1-1 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal days later.
But they have not won since, losing at Leeds and Atalanta and drawing with Bournemouth.
Chelsea boss Maresca was Friday named Premier League manager of the month for November, in recognition of his side’s unbeaten record.
“We are in December now,” he said, laughing, at his press conference.
“This kind of thing is because you do the right things in terms of performance and results,” he added.
“For us November was fantastic. December, we didn’t start in the way we would like, even if it’s just one week ago we played Leeds (a 3-1 defeat on December 3).
“So it’s just three games in a row in one week that we didn’t get the results that we expect but we are now focused on the next one.”
Chelsea, who won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup last season, are fifth in the Premier League, eight points behind Arsenal.
Maresca said he was relaxed about Chelsea’s mini-slump.
“It’s football, it’s completely normal,” he said. “I understand most of the time we are always looking for problems or things we need to solve.
“The Leeds game was last Wednesday, eight or nine days ago. We are not going to change our season because we didn’t get the points that we expect.
“But I’m completely relaxed, I’m completely OK because I’m sure that at the end of the season we’re going to be where we have to be.”
The Italian admitted that improving consistency was the next step for his young squad.
“In terms of human beings, it’s impossible to be all season at the same level but for sure probably we need to learn things and to avoid that in the future,” he said.
Maresca said forward Cole Palmer should be available to face Everton after missing Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat by Atalanta.