Late Khaldi Penalty Gives USM Alger Dramatic First-Leg Edge Over Zamalek
USM Alger snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory over Egyptian giants Zamalek SC in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup Final after a chaotic finish at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers.
Ahmed Khaldi emerged as the hero for the Algerian side, converting a 98th-minute penalty with power and composure to hand USM a slender advantage ahead of the return leg in Cairo. The midfielder blasted his spot kick beyond goalkeeper Mahdi Soliman and into the roof of the net, scoring his fourth goal of the campaign in Africa’s second-tier club competition.
The dramatic ending came moments after Zamalek believed they had stolen a late winner in front of a packed crowd of nearly 50,000 spectators.
Substitute Juan Bezerra appeared to have given the visitors the lead after capitalising on a miskick from Hocine Dehiri in midfield before racing through on goal and firing past Oussama Benbot.
However, celebrations from the Cairo side were cut short when VAR alerted the Mauritanian referee to an incident earlier in the move.
Replays on the stadium’s big screen showed Zamalek defender Hossam Abdelmaguid striking USM substitute Rayane Mahrouz with his knee before handling the ball inside the penalty area.
After reviewing the footage on the pitch-side monitor, the referee ruled out Bezerra’s goal and awarded a penalty to the hosts instead.
Khaldi then kept his composure despite furious protests from the Zamalek players to score what proved to be the decisive goal deep into 11 minutes of stoppage time.
The Egyptian club endured further frustration after also seeing another effort ruled out midway through the second half. On that occasion, the referee quickly penalised Angola-born winger Chico Banza for a foul on USM defender and Cameroon international Che Malone before the ball found the back of the net.
Banza had earlier come close to breaking the deadlock shortly after the restart when he lifted the ball over Benbot, only for Dehiri to clear his goal-bound effort off the line.
The second leg will take place on May 16 at Cairo International Stadium, where Zamalek will attempt to overturn the deficit and chase a third Confederation Cup crown, while USM Alger aim to secure a second continental title.
A record prize of $4 million awaits the winners, with the runners-up set to receive $2 million in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
