Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Zamalek suffered a painful 1-0 defeat against Algeria’s USM Alger in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final after a dramatic night filled with controversy, VAR interventions, and late heartbreak.
VAR Denies Zamalek Twice in Tense Final Battle
The Egyptian side entered the clash determined to secure a positive result away from home, but their hopes were repeatedly crushed by disallowed goals and a late penalty that handed the advantage to the Algerian hosts.
The first half ended goalless despite an energetic attacking display from Zamalek, who initially looked more dangerous in the final third. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after the break as USM Alger tightened control of possession and pushed forward relentlessly.
The Algerian side dominated large stretches of the second half, maintaining pressure on Zamalek’s defense while forcing the White Knights deep into their own half.
Disallowed Goals Deepen Zamalek Frustration
Zamalek thought they had broken the deadlock in the 67th minute, only for VAR to intervene and cancel the goal, silencing the traveling supporters and reigniting tension on the pitch.
Despite USM Alger’s dominance in possession and attacking attempts, Zamalek remained composed and continued searching for a breakthrough until the dying moments of the match.
Drama exploded in stoppage time when Juan Bezerra appeared to score a dramatic winner for Zamalek in the first minute of added time, but the referee ruled it out, delivering another devastating blow to the Egyptian side.
Minutes later, Mahmoud Bentayg received a red card in the fifth minute of stoppage time, leaving Zamalek with ten men during the closing moments of the encounter.
Late Penalty Seals First-Leg Advantage for Algerians
Just before the final whistle, Ahmed Khaldi converted a penalty for USM Alger, giving the hosts a crucial victory heading into the decisive second leg in Cairo.
The statistics reflected the Algerian club’s territorial dominance throughout the match. USM Alger recorded 22 attempts, with three shots on target, while Zamalek managed only eight total efforts and three on target.
Possession numbers further highlighted the imbalance, with the Algerian side controlling 70 percent of the ball compared to just 30 percent for Zamalek.
The defeat leaves the Egyptian giants facing a difficult mission in Cairo, where they must overturn the deficit to keep their Confederation Cup dreams alive.
