Morocco’s RS Berkane beat Zamalek of Egypt 1-0 to get the first leg advantage in the CAF Confederation Cup final. Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba struck a stoppage-time winner at the Stade Municipal in Morocco on Sunday to give the hosts a win.
Zamalek were on a nine-game unbeaten run and did not concede a goal in seven of those games, but were beaten late in the game by a fine close-range effort from the Togolese.
Berkane dominated the first half with their possession and shooting but could not get the ball past Zamalek’s third-choice goalkeeper, Omar Salah who was in goal due to Mahmoud Abdel Rahim’s sending off in the semi-final second-leg and an injury to second choice, Emad el Sayad.
In the second half, Zamalek slowed the game down in the first 15 minutes and even carried a greater threat going forward as they picked their moments to break forward.
A great opportunity fell for Zamalek’s Mahmoud Kahraba in the 67th minute one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he put his effort wide of the target.
Omar Salah saved Laba’s header expertly in the final minute of normal time, but could not stop the Togolese forward from scoring his eighth goal of the competition deep into stoppage time.
Zamalek now have to overturn the deficit if they are to lift the Confederation Cup trophy. The second leg will be played next week at Alexandria, Egypt.
