McCarthy and Da Silva sink Al Masry as Amakhosi take charge of Group D

Kaizer Chiefs took a massive step toward the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals on  Sunday afternoon, securing a gritty 2-1 victory over Egyptian side Al Masry at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The win sees the Soweto giants leapfrog their opponents to claim the top spot in Group D, moving two points clear of Cairo rivals Zamalek with just one matchday remaining in the group stages.

Resilience under pressure

Looking to bounce back from a midweek Nedbank Cup exit, co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef recalled stalwarts like Zitha Kwinika and Glody Lilepo to the starting XI. The strategy paid off early as Amakhosi dominated possession, frustrating the visitors who were cautioned for time-wasting tactics within the first twenty minutes.

The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when the referee awarded a penalty for a handball in the box. Despite heated protests from the Al Masry defense, Flavio Da Silva remained composed, sending the keeper the wrong way to give the home side a 1-0 lead going into the break.

The second half sparked into life when Al Masry's Abderrahim Deghmoum leveled the score in the 57th minute, firing a clinical left-footed shot into the far corner. However, the Egyptian celebrations were short-lived. Just two minutes later, Aden McCarthy pounced on a loose ball following a Zitha Kwinika header to restore the lead, sending the Polokwane crowd into a frenzy.

The road to the quarterfinals

The victory puts Chiefs in a commanding position. With 9 points from five matches, they lead the group.

“We knew the importance of this game. After the disappointment of the Nedbank Cup, the boys showed character to fight back immediately after conceding,” said co-coach Cedric Kaze after the final whistle.

Kaizer Chiefs now head to Cairo for high-stakes final group match against Zamalek. A single point in Egypt will be enough to guarantee their qualification for the knockout rounds.