By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@KaizerChiefs.
Kaizer Chiefs have opened a two-point gap at the top of Group D after their win over Al Masry at the new Peter Mokaba stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Chiefs broke the deadlock when the referee awarded them a contested penalty. After 32 minutes, Glody Lilepo fired in a shot which hit Al Masry defender Ahmed Mansour and he was adjudged to have handled the ball.
Replays suggested the defender had his hands behind as the ball hit him but with no VAR until the quarter-final, the decision stood as Al Masry players protested for over five minutes.
Flavio Silva stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for 1-0 in favour of Chiefs after 39 minutes.
In the second stanza, Al Masry increased the tempo and were rewarded with the equaliser 12 minutes upon resumption when Abderrahim Deghmoum reacted quickest to get ahead of the Chiefs defenders and connect home a lovely cross.
It took just three minutes for Chiefs to restore their one-goal lead. From a freekick, Zitha Kwinika headed towards goal and the ball was pushed back by the goalkeeper only to fall to Aden McCarthy, who poked home from close range for 2-1.
The Soweto giants held on to claim the win which leaves them top of the group with 10 points from five games, now two ahead of Zamalek, who suffered a shock 1-0 loss to ZESCO United on Sunday, and three better than Al Masry.
Chiefs will now head to Cairo to face Zamalek in the final match next weekend in confident mood as Al Masry look to beat ZESCO while hoping for a favourable result from the other game.’
Meanwhile Stellenbosch FC’s hopes of reaching the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals came to an end after they were beaten 3-0 by AS Otoho d’Oyo at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat on Sunday.
Elswewhere Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Saint-Éloi Lupopo in their CAF Champions League Group C encounter at the TP Mazembe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.