The 29-year-old Genesh, usually Zamalek’s second choice behind national team stopper Ahmed El-Shennawi, saved two spot kicks in the shootout, from Moemen Zakareya and Saleh Gomaa, to hand his side their third Super Cup title but first in 15 years since claiming the first two trophies in 2001 and 2002.
Penalties were needed in the Clasico Al Arab after it ended 0-0 after 90 minutes.
Zamalek had beaten Ahly 3-1 in last season’s Egypt Cup, but had lost to the Red Devils in the last two Super Cup finals. For Ahly, it brought to an end their recent dominance of the competition, having won the last four finals.
Arabian Gulf League side Al Jazira’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium was packed for a game between these two fierce Cairo rivals, and Gennesh was pleased Zamalek’s players could repay their fans.
“We worked really hard and this was a deserved win,” said the matchwinner.
“We wanted to win in regulation time, but thankfully we got the win anyway in penalties.
“Our fans mean everything to us, they give us a huge motivation.
“We thank everyone who showed up today, and even to those who couldn’t make it, we dedicate this win to them.”
The game’s late drama was a welcome relief to what had been a dour 90 minutes, devoid of chances. Perhaps not surprising after both sides had players arriving in the UAE capital only on Tuesday following Egypt’s 2-1 defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations final to Cameroon on Sunday.
The first half had passed with little incident. The Red Devils wanted a penalty when Abdallah El Said went down under Mahmoud Hamdi’s challenge, but Czech referee Pavel Kralovec was unmoved.
Zamalek’s only sight of goal came when Mohamed Ibrahim’s cross fell invitingly to Bassem Morsim, but he snatched at his shot and Sherif Ekramy gathered gratefully.
The second half offered precious little improvement in quality as both teams defended stoutly.
The clearest either side came to a winner arrived a minute before full time, and Ahly’s Nigerian frontman Junior Ajayi will surely look back with embarrassment as he awkwardly got his feet in a tangle when substitute Gomaa tricked and turned his way to the byline and found the 21-year-old yards from goal, but Gennesh gratefully gathered the loose ball.
Ahmed Hegazy was the only Ahly play to find the net from 12 yards, with Zakareya and Gomaa falling foul of Gennesh, while former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Hossam Ghaly’s skywards effort sent Zamalek supporters wild after Morsi, Osama Ibrahim and Ahmed Refaat had all found the net.
The final was the second time these teams have contested the Super Cup in the UAE. The first time was in October 2015 at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, which Ahly won 3-2.
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