Zamalek SC opened their CAF Champions League campaign with a statement performance at the Cairo International Stadium, dismantling AS du Port 4-0 in the first leg of their preliminary-round tie. The Egyptian giants were never seriously tested, scoring twice in each half to put one foot firmly in the next round before the return fixture.

Match Overview

From the first whistle, Zamalek pressed high and forced AS du Port into a deep, narrow block. The visitors survived the opening quarter of an hour but cracked once the hosts quickened the tempo on the flanks. A crisp move down the right produced the opener, and the floodgates opened shortly before the interval when a second goal punished a loose clearance.

The second half followed the same script. Zamalek controlled possession, cycled the ball patiently through midfield, and added two more goals as the visitors tired. AS du Port managed only a handful of meaningful entries into the final third and never seriously threatened the home goal.

Key Moments

• 18' — Opening goal: Zamalek's right-sided overload pulled the defence across, and a low cross was turned in at the near post to break the deadlock.
• 41' — Second goal: A misplaced pass in the visitors' build-up was intercepted and converted with a first-time strike from the edge of the box.
• 58' — Third goal: A set piece from the left was met with a firm header as Zamalek's height advantage told.
• 79' — Fourth goal: A substitute raced onto a through ball and finished calmly, capping a dominant display.

Tactical Story

Zamalek lined up in a 4-2-3-1 that became a 3-2-5 in possession, with the full-backs pushing high and the wide forwards hugging the touchline to stretch AS du Port's back four. The Egyptian side's midfield double pivot sat deep enough to smother any counter-attack, meaning the visitors' rare transitions fizzled out before reaching the penalty area.

AS du Port's plan appeared to be damage limitation: two banks of four, minimal pressing, and long clearances towards a lone striker. It worked for 18 minutes. Once Zamalek scored, the visitors had to choose between staying compact and chasing the game, and neither option slowed the hosts down. Their most effective spell came in the first ten minutes of the second half, when a couple of set pieces forced routine saves.

Standout Players

Zamalek's wide attackers were the difference-makers, repeatedly isolating their markers and delivering dangerous balls into the box. The central midfield pair dictated the rhythm, completing the overwhelming majority of their passes and winning the ball back quickly whenever possession was lost. Off the bench, the forward who scored the fourth goal added genuine sharpness in the final 20 minutes.

For AS du Port, the goalkeeper deserved credit for keeping the scoreline respectable with several strong stops, while the captain at centre-back made a handful of well-timed interventions under constant pressure.

Match Stats

What It Means for the Tie

Zamalek take a four-goal cushion into the second leg, effectively settling the tie unless something extraordinary happens in the return. For a club with genuine ambitions of going deep in the CAF Champions League, the performance was encouraging: clean sheet, four different scorers involved, and no injuries of note. AS du Port, meanwhile, will treat the away leg as a chance to restore pride and gain experience against continental opposition.