Zamalek paid for his coach Jose Gomez's adventure and received the fifth defeat in the Egyptian League this season by hosts Smouha at 0-1 on Sunday at Burj Al Arab Stadium, in the 21st round.

He scored the goal of the meeting, Nigerian player Abubakar Lyadi in the 53rd minute, while Smouha played imperfect after Husam Hassan was sent off in the 82nd minute.

Gomez decided to relieve his key elements, headed by Ahmed Syed Zizu, Ahmad Fatouh, Ahmad Hamdi and Omar Jaber, because of his fears of injuries ahead of next Sunday's volcano renaissance meeting in the first leg of the Confederation Cup final.