Algerian club USM Alger will compete in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup following a 2-0 semifinal second leg victory over Ivorian champions ASEC Mimosas on Wednesday at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers. Khaled Bousseliou scored in the first half and a late strike from substitute Ismail Belkacemi confirmed an aggregate victory for USMA after the first leg ended scoreless in Ivory Coast. USMA advance to face Tanzanian champions Young Africans SC with the first leg taking place in Dar es Salaam on May 28.
Around 60,000 supporters were in the stadium to urge on USMA and the atmosphere remained loud throughout. ASEC did well to hold out in the early stages but a loss of focus allowed USMA to find the opening goal in the 28th minute. A quick throw in found Bousseliou on the left wing who cut past ASEC defender Anthony Tra Bi to finish low past goalkeeper Charles Folly and send the supporters back into full voice.
ASEC regrouped during the halftime break and posed more questions for the USMA defense in the second half. Inside three minutes the hosts nearly conceded in disastrous fashion when USMA goalkeeper Oussama Benbout came out to intercept a pass and his clearance ricocheted off his own defender and just wide of the goal. Les Mimos continued to push and had a decent shout for a penalty kick when Salifou Diarrassouba was taken down in the 73rd minute but referee Pierre Atcho waved play on.
In the 80th minute the hosts put the result beyond doubt. A long ball from Benbout bounced towards the ASEC penalty area and Belkacemi, just on as a substitute, snuck in between Folly and his defense to collect and skillfully loop a shot over the keeper.
Highlights of the second leg are below.
