Ndola, Zambia – In an electrifying encounter at the Levy Mwanawansa Stadium, Zesco United faced off against Al Masry in the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, ultimately succumbing to a hard-fought 3-2 defeat. The match showcased a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams demonstrating their prowess and resilience on the pitch.
The match began with a tense atmosphere, quickly igniting in the 3rd minute when Al Masry stunned the home crowd. Mohamed Hashem headed in from a corner, capitalizing on a rebound to put the visitors ahead 1-0.
However, the Zesco players responded almost immediately. Just a minute later, a long pass found Freddy Michael, who made a decisive touch to level the scores at 1-1, sending the fans into a frenzy.
The first half was filled with excitement, but it was Al Masry who regained control in the 24th minute. A defensive miscalculation from Zesco allowed an Al Masry striker to slip through and score, regaining the edge at 2-1. Despite Zesco’s ongoing efforts to find an equalizer before halftime, the score remained the same, closing out the first half with Al Masry leading 2-1.
As the second half commenced, Zesco made two substitutions, bringing on Pascal and Chilongoshi for Mayembe and Chepeshi in hopes of injecting more energy into their attack. Early chances were created by Zesco but were thwarted by a solid performance from Al Masry’s goalkeeper, Ahmed, who denied them on multiple occasions, including a crucial free kick in the 50th minute.
The match continued to ebb and flow, with Zesco missing several golden opportunities to equalize. Notably, Freddy Michael failed to capitalize on a prime chance in the 59th minute.
Zesco’s perseverance almost paid off momentarily as they began to mount pressure, but Al Masry’s defense held strong until the 67th minute. A well-timed counterattack allowed Al Masry to double their lead, pushing the score to 3-1, much to the dismay of the home supporters.
In a thrilling turn of events, Zesco striker Musukuma found the back of the net in the 86th minute, receiving a pass from Paschal Phiri that rekindled hopes for a late equalizer, bringing the score to 3-2. As the match approached its conclusion, Zesco pushed forward with renewed vigor, but time would not be on their side.
The match concluded 3-2 in favor of Al Masry after a tense seven minutes of stoppage time were played, leaving Zesco United reflecting on missed chances and the need for improved defensive organization. The defeat marks a challenging start to their group stage campaign in this prestigious tournament.
Zesco United will need to regroup and reflect on their performance as they prepare for their next challenge in the CAF Confederation Cup, aiming to bounce back and secure vital points in the coming matches.