USM Alger Stun Zamalek with Dramatic Last-Gasp Victory in CAF Confederation Cup Final First Leg

Adham mohamed3 days ago

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A dramatic and controversial ending overshadowed the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup Final between USM Alger and Zamalek SC at the 5 July Olympic Stadium, as the Algerian side secured a crucial 1-0 victory deep into stoppage time to edge closer to the continental title ahead of the decisive return leg in Cairo.

The closing minutes witnessed extraordinary drama after Brazilian substitute Juan Bezerra appeared to score a late winner for Zamalek during added time, sparking wild celebrations among the Egyptian side. However, Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida halted the celebrations after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), eventually ruling out the goal amid intense controversy inside the stadium.

The tension escalated further when the referee awarded a penalty kick to USM Alger following the VAR review, prompting furious protests from Zamalek players and coaching staff over the highly disputed decision in the dying moments of the encounter.

Ahmed El Khaldi stepped up to take the penalty and calmly converted it into the net, scoring the decisive goal for the Algerian club, while Zamalek’s frustrations worsened after Moroccan player Mahmoud Bentayg received a red card for protesting the referee’s decision.

The victory gives USM Alger a significant advantage heading into the second leg, scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Cairo International Stadium, where the CAF Confederation Cup title will ultimately be decided.

Tactical Battle and Balanced Performance

The match began cautiously, with both sides clearly focused on maintaining defensive discipline and avoiding conceding an away goal before the return fixture.

USM Alger enjoyed relatively greater possession and territorial control, boosted by strong home support, but Zamalek posed the more dangerous attacking threat through quick counterattacks and rapid transitions.

The Egyptian side came close to taking the lead on several occasions, with the most notable moment arriving when Adam Kaied found the back of the net for Zamalek. However, the referee disallowed the goal after penalizing Angolan forward Chico Banza for pushing a USM Alger defender during the build-up.

Zamalek players also squandered several clear scoring opportunities throughout both halves, while the Algerian defense and goalkeeper delivered a disciplined performance to keep the game level until the dramatic stoppage-time twist.

Zamalek Starting Lineup Against USM Alger

Zamalek head coach Moatamed Gamal started the match with the following lineup:

Goalkeeper: Mahdi Soliman
Defense: Ahmed, Ahmed Fattouh, Hossam Abdel Meguid, Mahmoud Hamdy El Wensh, Mohamed Ismail
Midfield: Adam Kaied, Mohamed Shehata, Abdallah El Said
Attack: Chico Banza, Odai Dabbagh, Mahmoud Bentayg

The substitutes bench included:

Mohamed Awad, Nasser Mansi, Ahmed Abdel Rahim Esho, Ahmed Rabie, El Sayed Osama, Seifeddine Jaziri, Juan Bezerra, Mohamed Ibrahim, and Ahmed Sherif.

Zamalek Still Hopeful Ahead of Cairo Showdown

Despite the defeat, Zamalek remain hopeful of overturning the deficit in the second leg, especially with the advantage of playing in front of their home supporters at Cairo International Stadium.

Meanwhile, USM Alger will aim to preserve their narrow lead and secure a positive result in Cairo in pursuit of another continental triumph.