USM Alger progresses to CAF Confederation Cup after chaotic match against Olympique Safi

[p]The two-leg semi-final [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/olympique-de-safi-fFoSR8Sj/usm-alger-zXBidj5t/?mid=dKWdO4Q0"]finished 1-1[/a] on aggregate after a goalless match in Algiers last weekend.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usm-alger/zXBidj5t/"]USM[/a] now face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zamalek/Qk0VR4IS/"]Zamalek of Egypt[/a] on May 9 and 16 in the final.[/p][p]At stake in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League will be a record $4 million first prize - an increase of 100 percent from last season.[/p][p]The kick-off was delayed 80 minutes after rival supporters threw projectiles and a Moroccan journalist was reportedly taken to hospital having been assaulted.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/khaldi-ahmed/8YbtbIYt/"]Ahmed Khaldi[/a] converted a penalty four minutes into first half added time to put the Algiers outfit ahead and leave [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/olympique-de-safi/fFoSR8Sj/"]Safi[/a] needing to score two unanswered goals to reach the final.[/p][embed guid="a58c8803-7a43-4963-8cd0-cab2e1ace5f0" url="https://x.com/CAFCLCC/status/2045994944276443571?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]They managed one, after 75 minutes, when Senegalese substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kone-moussa/tEc54CST/"]Moussa Kone[/a] scored his sixth goal of the African campaign with a far-post header after a corner.[/p][p]But the home team, roared on by the majority of supporters in an 8,000-capacity stadium in the southern coastal city, rarely looked like scoring again.[/p][p]After 10 minutes of added time in the first half, an additional 20 minutes were added to the second period in a tense match that was constantly interrupted.[/p][p]Players feigned injuries and constantly disputed decisions of the Rwandan referee, bottles were flung on the pitch and fireworks temporarily created a cloud of smoke over the pitch.[/p][p]USM won the Confederation Cup in 2023 and claimed a second CAF trophy that year thanks to a surprise victory over then African champions Al Ahly of Egypt in the Super Cup match.[/p][p]Zamalek are the second most successful club in CAF competitions after Cairo neighbours Ahly, winning 13 titles, including the Confederation Cup twice.[/p]