USM Alger secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Zamalek SC in the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final after a last-gasp penalty in stoppage time at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers on Saturday.
The match appeared to be heading for a goalless draw until Ahmed Khaldi converted a penalty in the 98th minute, just moments after Zamalek had briefly celebrated what they thought was a late winning goal at the other end.
Zamalek had a goal disallowed following a VAR review that ruled out the strike for a handball in the build-up. The incident also led to increased drama as the Egyptian side were reduced to ten men late on after a red card for dissent.
The first half was tightly contested, with both sides struggling to create clear chances despite flashes of attacking intent. Zamalek relied on counter-attacks, while USM Alger enjoyed more possession and territory but lacked precision in the final third.
After the break, the Algerian side pushed harder, with several efforts narrowly missing the target and Zamalek goalkeeper El Mahdi Slimane making key saves to keep his team in the game.
Zamalek also threatened on the break, with Chico Banza and Oday Al-Dabbagh involved in their best attacking moments, but they were unable to convert their opportunities.
The decisive moment eventually arrived in stoppage time when USM Alger were awarded a penalty, which Khaldi calmly converted to give the hosts a narrow but valuable advantage ahead of the second leg.
The result leaves USM Alger in control of the tie heading into the return leg in Cairo, while Zamalek must now overturn the deficit to keep their hopes of continental success alive.
