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Zamalek defeated holders Esperance 3-1 on Friday in their African Champions League quarter-final first leg as Raja Casablanca beat TP Mazembe 2-0 at home.<\/span><\/p>\n Zamalek’s<\/strong> Moroccan attacker Mohamed Ounajem unleashed an unstoppable looping shot into the roof of the net on 31 minutes with the goal of the match in Cairo.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n It levelled the match at 1-1 after <\/span>Esperance<\/strong> of Tunisia had taken the lead through a close-range shot from Algerian Abdelraouf Benguit at the Cairo International Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n Egyptian giants Zamalek grew stronger as the match progressed and another Moroccan, Achraf Bencharki, put them ahead on 72 minutes after Esperance failed to clear a cross at the far post.<\/span><\/p>\n Mahmoud Alaa doubled Zamalek’s lead four minutes into stoppage time, placing a penalty into the corner of the net as Moez Ben Cherifia dived the wrong way.<\/span><\/p>\n Esperance played the final 17 minutes a man short after Mohamed Ali Romdhane was sent off for pushing the referee as many of the visiting team protested the second Zamalek goal.<\/span><\/p>\n When the match ended, security personnel rushed to surround the match officials and escort them off the pitch.<\/span><\/p>\n The two teams meet again next Friday in Rades with four-time champions Esperance needing to score at least twice to survive.<\/span><\/p>\n