Refereeing Woes, Travel Woes, and a Super Cup Night: Zamalek Triumphs Over Pyramids on Penalties

Match Overview

Croatian coach Kronoslav Jurcevic, the head coach of Pyramids FC, said that luck did not favor his players in converting the chances they had, despite dominating play against Zamalek.

Pyramids lost to Zamalek on penalties 4-5 after a goalless draw in regulation time in the Egyptian Super Cup semifinal, played at the Al Wahda Club Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.

Zamalek earned a spot in the final against Al Ahly, while Pyramids will meet Ceramica Cleopatra to determine third place.

Jurcevic stated that there was a clear problem with the finishing touch and finishing easy chances, and with the focus of some players. He added that Pyramids were the better and more dominant side and deserved to win, but penalties did not favor the better team.

He also asserted that the team suffered an evident refereeing injustice, with at least two penalties not awarded.

He described the conditions in the UAE as far from ideal, noting the hotel chosen for the team was the farthest among all participants from the training and match venues, and that the club was not given a chance to choose its hotel, unlike the other three clubs.

He added that for the first time the training ground was changed at the last moment, moving farther from the team’s lodging, which caused fatigue for the players, along with a tough travel schedule after traveling to the UAE via multiple planes due to lack of seats, in addition to the packed schedule domestically and continentally.

Repeated Scenario

The same scenario was repeated in this rivalry’s last edition semifinal, when Zamalek reached the final also on penalties.

Hani Saeed, the sporting director of Pyramids, said in TV interviews that the most striking moment for him was witnessing the same end result again, noting that football is football and evaluation should be based on results and performance rather than a few technical details.

He also acknowledged there were missing players such as Fiston Mayele and Mohamed Hamdi, who were not fully fit but participated after reporting some pains.

Kronoslav Jurcevic explained that there were other important absences such as Blati Touré, Ramadan Sobhi, Mostafa Fathy, and Osama Jallal, but he did not want to make excuses; he said the team was not at its best and noted that Zamalek’s approach to shutting down key players affected matters.

When asked about the possibility of Jurcevic being sacked, Saeed said they never considered parting ways with him, noting that rumors started before the league clash with Al Ahly and that this season has seen changes, but the club has not thought about such a move.

He added that evaluation of the coach is always based on results, and that Ahmed Abdel Raouf, the coach of Zamalek, has received praise after the victory, though his team started the match with caution and may have committed tactical errors; a win however ends the debate.

Saeed also said that these discussions would have erupted if Zamalek had lost, but that is football. Evaluation should be realistic and consider both coaches and players' performances.

With Zamalek advancing, they booked a high profile final against their traditional rival Al Ahly, who defeated Ceramica Cleopatra 2-1 in the other semifinal.

Punchlines

Sniper joke 1: If referees were marksmen, we’d still be arguing about a crossbar; the only thing sharper would be a rumor about the next match.

Sniper joke 2: In football, miracles happen—usually when the ball finally hits the back of the net after a dramatic delay. Until then, pass the popcorn and the coffee cups, please.