Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2
(Da Silva pen. 39, McCarthy 60’)

Al Masry (0) 1
(Deghmoum 57’)

TotlaEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, Group D
New Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane

Kaizer Chiefs are a point away from qualification for the knockout phase of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup after seeing off Al Masry 2-1 at the New Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.

Flavio Da Silva Gave Chiefs a 1-0 lead going into the break from the penalty spot after 39 minutes and Aden McCarthy poached the winner for Chiefs in the 60^th minute, three minutes after Abderrahim Deghmoum had equalised for the Egyptian side.

The victory takes Chiefs to 10 points from five rounds, with Zamalek, who the face next, on eight points after losing 1-0 to ZESCO United, and Al Masry on seven points. A point way at Zamalek will be enough to send them through.

In front of boisterous support inside the stadium, Amakhosi went for an early goal that would settle them and their fans, yet as they pushed forward they were kept honest at the back by the visitors’ dangerous counter-attacks following transition of possession.

Chiefs’ best moments came down the right flank with Glody Lilepo and Dillan Solomons combining well> The Congolese had Chiefs’ first attempt, an 11^th minute free kick that cleared the crossbar, and Solomons almost put Da Silva through but his pass was a touch too strong.

Da Silva was unlucky to be pulled back for a foul on Mansour in the 30^th minute when replays showed it was shoulder-to-shoulder and the striker would have had a clear sight of goal.

Two minutes later, Lilepo fired in a ripping shot from outside the box which struck Mansour’s arm as he leaned across to attempt to block it. Ther referee pointed to the spot and after a lengthy delay where Al Masry argued and tried all manner of gamesmanship to distract from the penalty, Da Sliva kept his nerve and buried the ball into the net to put Chiefs 1-0 up.

Al Masry bounced back and Brandon Peteresen was called on to save a Salah Mohsen header, but it was Amakhosi who came closer to doubling their lead, first in the 44^th minute when Pule Mmodi made good ground down the left before setting Shabalala up for a shot that was saved, and the five minutes into stoppage time, Siphesihle Ndlovu slipped Da Silva in. He rounded the ‘keeper but the angle was too tight and his shot hit the side netting. There was still time for Lilepo to go close with a free kick that was deflected just past the post.

Chiefs came under sustained attack as Al Masry sought way back into the match and absorbed the pressure capably until the 57^th minute when Deghmoum timed his late run into the box perfectly to control a Hasan Ali cross and steer it past Petersen.

Parity only lasted three minutes until he hour mark when Al Masry ‘keeper Mahmoud Hamzi could only parry Zitha Kwinikia’s glancing header from a Lebohang Moboe free kick out wide on the right and McCarthy was on hand to tap the ball home from close range, as he has done before this season.

Al Masry turned to full offensive mode but Chiefs were well in control of their destiny now and held the visitors at bay to record a famous victory.

They now travel to Cairo with confidence for their final group game of the competition and can hopefully look forward to going deep into the late rounds.

Line-ups

Kaizer Chiefs:  Petersen © (1), McCarthy (35), Kwinika (4), Solomons (18) (Monyane (2) 62’), Msimango (25), Ndlovu (8), Maboe (6), Shabalala (7) (Mako (29) 73’), Mmodi (13) (Sirino (10) 89’), Lilepo (19), Da Silva (32) (Mayo (3) 73’)

Subs not used: Bvuma (16); Mabaso (34), Matlou (22), Vilakazi (28), Velebayi (17)

Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze

Al Masry: Abdelbaky (16) (Mohamed (1) 89’); Mansour © (3), Zeid (5), Eleraky (7), Ibrahim (8) (Youssef (10) 72’), Shalabi (9) (Kingsley (20) 87’), Elsayed (14), Sawafta (18) (Elsaiy (33) 64’), Temine (25) (Ismail (13) 72’), Hashem (29), Deghmoum (30)

Subs not used: Elshamy (11), Hussein (22), Saleh (23), Basyouny (37)

Coach: Nabil Kouki