Good going

Zamalek beat APR to reach round 32 of the CAF Champions League, reports Ahmed Morsy

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Zamalek easily got by Rwanda APR

Zamalek beat APR of Rwanda 2-0 in the second leg of round 64 in Cairo on Sunday to reach round 32 of the African Champions League with a 4-1 aggregate after beating APR 2-1 in Rwanda two weeks earlier.

Five-time champions Zamalek failed to break through the Rwandan defence during the first 45 minutes. Mahmoud Abdel-Razeq, or Shikabala, came close to scoring but the Rwandan keeper deflected his free kick with his finger tips for a corner.

After the break Zamalek intensified their attacks and got what they deserved after Mustafa Gaafar was tackled in the area, earning Zamalek a penalty from which defender Mahmoud Fathallah scored in the 52nd minute after being forced to replay his first successful attempt.

Captain Hazem Emam sent clear Sherif Ashraf, who had just substituted for Shikabala, dribbling past the goalkeeper and securing the win with a left-foot strike 11 minutes from time.

Zamalek will face Africa Sports from the Ivory Coast in the second round.

Two former winners, Ghana's Hearts of Oak and FAR Rabat of Morocco, were the biggest casualties during the second leg matches of the preliminary matches of the Champions League during the weekend.

Hearts, winners in 2001, beat FC 105 of Gabon 3-1 at the Ohene Djan Sport Stadium in Accra but still bowed out 4-3 on aggregate while FAR Rabat suffered a surprise exit at the hands of Cape Verdian champions, Sporting Praia 5-4 on penalties after going down 3-0 in the second leg.

Hearts started on a bright note in their quest to annul the three-goal deficit from the first leg as midfielder Michael Asante gave them a deserved lead after 23 minutes from close range.

Claude Mintsa equalised for the Gabonese champions just before the interval, rendering second half goals from Kofi Abanga and Francis Bossman insufficient to take the Phobians through the next stage.

In Praia, 1985 champions FAR Rabat gave up a three-goal lead from the first leg as a brace from Jwaw Tegana and Lovandeur Mandouza saw Sporting Praia draw equal.

The Cape Verdian champions eliminated the Rabat-based side 5-4 on penalties, producing one of the biggest upsets of the preliminary round.

In South Africa, champions Mamelodi Sundowns put their domestic woes behind to thrash Zanzibar side Miembeni 4-0 to progress on a 5-0 aggregate.

First half strikes from Bryan Aldaye and Lerato Chabangu coupled with a second half brace from Zimbabwean veteran Peter Ndlovu gave Trott Moloto's side a convincing passage into the first round.

Malian champions Stade Maliem held Angola's Primero Agosto to an impressive barren draw away, but it was not enough to see them through after a 2-1 loss from the first leg.

Two-time champions Enyimba managed a 3-2 win over Congo champions Diables Noir away to go through 7-3 on aggregate.

A brace from Stephen Worgu and one from Uche Kalu gave Enyimba a three- goal lead before the Congolese scored two late goals to restore some pride.

Enyimba Chairman Felix Anyasi was full of praise for his players for exhibiting a high level of determination which he said put them through.

"We were determined to win. When we are pushed to the wall, we always have to fight back and I am happy with the way the players responded."

In Tunisia, Club Africain pipped Senegalese side ASC Saloum by a lone goal to go through 3-1 on aggregate. Youssef Mouihbi scored the only goal of the match in the 29th minute.