CAF Confederation Cup- USM Algers get the better of Young African in final first leg
USM Alger traveled to win at Young Africans in the CAF Confederation Cup final first leg. Both teams fought off tough clashes on the road to the final with Young Africans eliminating South African side Marumo Gallants in the semifinals while USM Alger crushed out Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas in the last four.
The first leg of the final was held at Benjamin Nkapa Stadium in Dar es Salam with Young Africans confident from home advantage.
But that common opinion didn’t hold after 90′ minutes in the Tanzania’s capital with the North African side winning the first leg 2-1 at the 60,000 capacity Nkapa Stadium.
Goals from Aymen Mahious and Islam Merili was enough for USM Alger but Fiston Kalala Mayele scored a brilliant one in between to produced the 2-1 score line for USM Alger.
Young Africans threatened first from a corner kick but USM Alger cleared the danger. The visitors got two clear chances within some minutes but Young Africans keeper Diara save the home side especially from the second chance that looked more obvious to score.
Djigui Diarra made a big mistake some moments later after slipping at the edge of the box that should have led to USM Alger opener but the defense line head the ball out of danger.
The Algerian side got their noses in front midway in the first half after Aymen Mahious head home from a resultant free kick delivered by Benzaza at the left flank. It was such a cheap goal for Young Africans to concede on the 32′ minute.
Fiston Mayele who has been linked with a move to the South African Premier Soccer League equalized but late in the game following a neat team movement.
Ghanaian International Bernard Morrison dribbled through a couple of obstacles, chipped the ball over for Mudathir Yahya who head straight to Mayele. The latest groomed the ball before finishing at the bottom corner with a half volley as the atmosphere at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium cheered.
Looking from the manner of the equalizer which is first class, Young Africans can build upon to make a statement in the second leg in Algiers.
The 1-1 score line would have kept their title ambitions alive but Young Africans succumbed to another USM Alger goal two minutes after the leveler with a nice movement from the right edge seeing the visitors entered the box as Islam Merili fired into the net.
Today’s 2-1 score line means Young Africans have to win the second leg a week later any scoreline than 1-0 to lift this season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Mayele got his 7th goal of the competition as the Tanzanian International leads the CAF Confederation Cup top scorer chat. Marumo Gallants forward Ranga Chivaviro sit second place with 6 goals. Chivaviro has been linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs in the summer.
Ghana forward Paul Acquah who has been linked with Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko comes in third place with 4 goals.
