Zamalek vs Belouizdad Photo courtesy of CAF.
Full time: USM Alger 1-0 Zamalek
Scorers: Khaldi 90pen
Yellow cards:
Haithem Loucif, Radouani, Malone, Benbot (USM Alger)
Banza (Zamalek)
Red card:
Bentayg (Zamalek)
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Lineups:
USM Alger: O. Benbot – B. Benzaza (Mahrouz 87), H. Dehiri, Z. Draoui, D. Kamagate (Bouderbala 72) - A. Khaldi, H. Loucif, C. Malone Junior, I. Merili - S. Radouani, A. Tendeng (Likonza 73)
Zamalek: El Mahdi Soliman - Mohamed Ismael, Hossam Abdel-Maguid, Mahmoud Hamdi, Mahmoud Bentayg - Abdallah El-Said, Ahmed Fatouh (Ahmed Rabie 86), Mohamed Shehata, Adam Kaied (Bezerra 72) - Oday Dabbagh (Ahmed Sherif 86), Chico Banza (Esho 90)
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The second leg will be played in Cairo on 16 May.
90+9' The referee blows the final whistle.
90' The fourth official announces eight minutes of added time.
90' GOAL!! Ahmed Khaldi converts from the penalty spot to give USM Alger the lead.
89' Mahmoud Bentayg is sent off for misconduct following the referee’s decision.
88' Bezerra appears to have put Zamalek ahead, but the goal is ruled out by VAR after Hossam Abdel-Maguid is adjudged to have fouled a USM Alger defender inside the box. The referee awards a penalty to the hosts following the review.
86' Zamalek coach Motamed Gamal brings on Ahmed Sherif and Ahmed Rabie to replace Dabbagh and Fattouh in a bid to strengthen the defence.
80' Substitute Bezerra makes a strong run from midfield into the area but is brought down by Malone, who is booked for the challenge.
72' Zamalek coach Motamed Gamal brings on influential Bezerra in place of Adam Kaied in a bid to find a breakthrough goal.
66' Banza leads a promising counter-attack with a solo run down the left wing, entering the area before going down under a challenge from a USM Alger defender. He then plays the ball to Dabbagh, who finds the net, but the goal is ruled out.
64' USM Alger continue to apply pressure onZamalek’s well-organised defence, while the visitors rely on counter-attacks.
53' WHAT A CHANCE! Chico Banza misses a clear scoring opportunity for Zamalek inside the area after controlling the ball well over the goalkeeper, but his effort is blocked by the USM Alger defence.
51' WHAT A CHANCE! Kamagate’s close-range header goes narrowly wide of the left post.
47' Chico Banza produces a fine solo run with close control to break into the area, but his weak shot rolls harmlessly into the six-yard box.
46' Second half is underway!
45+2' Halftime!
45' The fourth official announces two minutes of added time.
43' Ahmed Khaldi’s close-range header from inside the area goes over the bar.
38' Kamagate tries his luck again from outside the area, but his effort goes wide of the left post.
35' Hosts USM Alger apply pressure on Zamalek’s solid defence but fail to seriously threaten the goalkeeper.
22' Kamagate unleashes a powerful long-range strike from outside the area, but the ball goes just wide of the right post.
17' Haithem Loucif is booked following an altercation with Zamalek midfielder Shehata.
12' Zamalek rely on counter-attacks after blocking USM Alger’s moves in midfield, with Banza leading the transitions with his passing.
6' Chico Banza misses an early clear-cut chance after receiving a brilliant pass from Dabbagh, but sends his effort straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.
5' Both sides start cautiously, with visitors Zamalek applying early pressure in an attempt to neutralise USM Alger’s advantage.
0' Match is underway
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21:00 Influential Brazilian winger Bezerra, who has been struggling with injury, starts on the bench and is expected to feature later in the match after making the difference in last week’s 1-0 win over Smouha.
20:50 Zamalek’s coach Motamed Gamal has made minor changes to his usual lineup, handing starts to regular substitutes Chico Banza and Adam Kaied.
17:30 Zamalek face significant selection concerns ahead of the match, with influential winger Bezerra doubtful after suffering a pelvic injury. Mohamed El-Sayed and Mahmoud Bentayg are also fitness doubts due to an ankle sprain and a cut, respectively.
15:00 Being just one step away of securing the Egyptian Premier League after Tuesday's 1-0 win over Smouha, Zamalek coach Motamed Gamal said his team will temporarily set the league title race aside to concentrate on the CAF Confederation Cup final.
"We have closed the domestic league page for now and are fully focused on this final," Gamal told CAF official website.
14:00 Influential winger Bezerra was doubtful for the game due to a pelvic injury, but good news came for the Whites as he participated in Friday's training session.
13:30 Zamalek booked their place in the final with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the semis; thanks to a decisive goal from Brazilian forward Juan Bezerra.
12:15 Zamalek lifted the prestigious continental trophy twice before in 2019 and 2024.
11:30 Seeking their third ever CAF Confederation Cup title, Cairo giants Zamalek will be eying a positive result as they will be hosted by Algeria's USM Alger in the first leg of the final on Saturday night.
Venue: Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 (Algiers)
Check the match preview HERE
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