USM Alger suffer first loss as Young Africans claim bagging rights

by Brian Lee

Sunday Aug 19, 2018. 21:25

Algeria’s USM Alger suffered their first loss in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup when they went down 2-1 to Tanzania’s Young Africans in a Group D at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium on Sunday.

Despite the loss Alger are still in second place in Group D with eight points, but will have to make sure to collect victory in their next Confed Cup match if they want to ensure qualification into the knockout stages.

The win was the Young Africans first in Group D, but they are still bottom of the table with four points.

The home side certainly started well and had the lion’s share possession, but the Young Africans struggled to create decent goal scoring chances due to poor passing in the final third.

Alger did not see much of the ball in the opening half and suffered a set-back in the 39th minute when Mohamed Meftah had to leave the field injured and was replaced by Mehdi Benchikhoune.

The Young Africans took full advantage of that disruption in their opposition’s team and took the lead a minute before the break courtesy of a strike from Raphael Loth, 1-0.

The home team kept up the pressure at the start of the second half and scored their second goal in the 47th minute when Heritier Makambo found the back of the net, 2-0.

Alger, though, were not going to go down without a fight and managed to pull a goal back in the 52nd minute after Abderrahmane Meziane concluded a good team goal with a clinical finish, 2-1.

After conceding a goal the Young Africans sat back in defence and ‘parked the bus’ as they say. The home side endured attack after attack from Alger, but in the end they managed to hold on for the win.

Young Africans (1) 2 (Loth 44’, Makambo 47’)

USM Alger (0) 1 (Meziane 52’)

Teams

Young Africans: Kamagi, Buswita [Mahadhi 46’ (Hajibu 71)], Yondani, Shaibu, Makambo, Abdul, Kakolanya, Kambamba, Kaseke, Chikupe, Loth (Kamusoko 84’).

USM Alger: Zemmamouche, Mexes (Mahious 51’), Chafai, Yaya, Meziane (Sayoud 67’), Ibara, Hamra, Meftah (Benchikhoune 39’), Koudri, Benmoussa, Benguit.