Zamalek's Brazilian winger Juan Bezerra celebrates after scoring his side's goal during the 1-0 victory over CR Belouizdad in Algeria, in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final on Friday. Photo: Zamalek's official X account.
The White Knights now hold a significant advantage ahead of the second leg in Cairo, where they will only need a draw to secure their progression.
The match began in a cagey fashion, with both sides cautious in their approach, as play was largely confined to a crowded midfield as neither team managed to carve out clear-cut openings in the opening exchanges.
Belouizdad registered the first serious effort in the 13th minute, when striker Lotfi Boussouar connected with a pass from Bilal Boukerchaoui and fired from outside the box, but Zamalek goalkeeper El Mahdi Soliman responded with a sharp save to his right to keep the scores level.
Zamalek answered five minutes later through Bezerra, who met a cross from Palestinian forward Oday Dabbagh and unleashed a left-footed effort from distance, though it drifted wide of the post.
The woodwork came to the visitors' rescue in the 22nd minute when Abderrahmane Meziane tried his luck from range, only to see his powerful shot cannon off the left post with Soliman beaten.
Zamalek veteran playmaker Abdallah El-Said then tested Belouizdad keeper Farid Chaâl with a trademark long-range effort, which the Algerian shot-stopper did well to tip around the post for a corner.
The breakthrough arrived in the 28th minute, after left-back Ahmed Fatouh found Bezerra inside the box with a precise long ball, and the Brazilian talisman made no mistake, slotting home from close range with his left foot.
Belouizdad pressed for an immediate response but struggled to penetrate a disciplined Zamalek backline before the interval.
At the start of the second half, Zamalek coach Motamed Gamal opted for a tactical change, resting goalscorer Bezerra and introducing Ahmed Sherif.
The Algerian side intensified their pressure after the break, while the visitors were content to sit deep and rely on a well-organized defense and quick counter-attacks.
The hosts missed a golden opportunity to level two minutes after the restart. Youcef Laouafi rose highest to meet a Naoufel Khacef set-piece, but his header from the center of the box drifted wide of the target.
Fortune favored the White Knights again just before the hour mark when Younes Ouassa’s header from an Abdelraouf Benguit cross struck the crossbar.
Drama unfolded in the 68th minute when Belouizdad thought they had finally found an equalizer through Abdennour Belhocini. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the referee overturned the goal, much to the frustration of the home crowd.
Despite a late onslaught that saw Belouizdad besiege the Zamalek area, the White Knights held firm to secure the win.
Zamalek will host the return leg next Friday at the Cairo International Stadium, where they are favorites to confirm their spot in the final.
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