USM Alger earned a dramatic 1-0 victory over Zamalek SC in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup Final after a late penalty separated the two sides at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers.
The decisive moment arrived in the closing stages following a controversial VAR review that transformed the complexion of the match. Zamalek initially believed they had taken the lead through Juan Bezerra, only for the goal to be disallowed after the referee consulted the video assistant referee system.
Moments later, the referee awarded a penalty against Hossam Abdel-Maguid, allowing Ahmed Khaldi to convert from the spot and hand the Algerian side a crucial first-leg advantage.
The match unfolded as a tactical contest in which Zamalek adjusted their usual approach due to Bezerra’s absence from the starting line-up. The Egyptian side adopted a 4-4-2 diamond formation, pairing Chico Banza with Adi Al-Dabbagh in attack, while Adam Kayed operated behind the forwards.
Midfield support came from Abdullah Al-Saeed and Ahmed Fatouh, with Mohamed Shehata anchoring the midfield. It was a system Zamalek had rarely used, but it enabled them to remain organised defensively while looking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities.
Zamalek’s threat largely came through Chico Banza, who repeatedly troubled the USM Alger defence with his pace and direct running. The forward was involved in three dangerous attacking situations and produced the visitors’ clearest chance when he dribbled past the goalkeeper, only for defender Hussein Dahiri to clear the danger before the ball crossed the line.
Despite USM Alger dominating possession for long periods, the home side struggled to create clear openings against Zamalek’s disciplined defensive structure. Their most dangerous first-half attempt came from Khaldi, whose header from an indirect free-kick sailed over the crossbar.
USM Alger operated with an advanced defensive line throughout the match, a strategy that exposed them to several counter-attacks. Defenders Dahiri and Malone found it difficult at times to cope with the speed of Chico Banza and Bezerra after the Brazilian was introduced later in the game.
Bezerra appeared to expose those weaknesses when he scored what seemed to be the opening goal, weaving through defenders before finishing confidently. However, the effort was eventually ruled out after the VAR intervention.
While USM Alger’s defensive line occasionally looked vulnerable, Dahiri also played a key role in preserving the clean sheet with a goal-line clearance, while Malone recovered well in several physical duels with Chico Banza.
Coach Lamine Ndiaye also faced scrutiny over his choice at left-back but opted for Haitham Loucif, who contributed effectively in attacking phases and created two opportunities for the Algerian side.
The winning penalty continued USM Alger’s strong recent record from the spot in the competition. The Algerian club have now converted their last four penalties in the Confederation Cup, with their previous miss coming against CS Constantine on 2 April 2025 when Mehdi Merghem failed to score.
Attention now turns to the return leg in Cairo, where Zamalek will attempt to overturn the deficit. The Egyptian side can draw confidence from previous Confederation Cup finals after losing the first leg of both the 2019 and 2024 finals by a single goal before recovering at home to defeat RS Berkane and lift the trophy on both occasions.
USM Alger, however, travel to Egypt with belief of their own. The Algerian side have recently demonstrated their ability to secure results away from home, including progression against Olympique Safi in the semi-finals and victory over CR Belouizdad in the Algerian Cup final on their rivals’ ground.
