VIDEO: RS Berkane edge Zamalek in Confederation Cup final

Zamalek will return to Cairo in a jubilant mood after snatching an away goal in Morocco against RS Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup final.

The game ended in a 2-1 victory for the Moroccans; however, an away goal will give a massive boost to Zamalek when they host the return-leg next week.

José Gomes didn’t make many changes to his starting line-up as Mohamed Awad started between the sticks with Jaziri and Ahmed Sayed Zizo leading the attacking lineup.

Zamalek XI: Mohamed Awad, Omar Gaber, Hamza Mathlouti, Hossam Abdelmeguid, Ahmed Fetouh; Ahmed Hamdi, Dunga, Mohamed Shehata; Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Seifeddine Jaziri, Samson Akinyoola.

RS Berkane XI: Hamza Hamiani, Hamza El Moussaoui, Abdelhak Assal, Issoufou Dayo, Adil Tahif; Ayoub Khairi, Yassine Labhiri, Mohamed El Morabit, Youssef Mehri; Youssef El Fahli, Paul Bassene.

The game started with RS Berkane dominating the opening minutes as expected and their pressure came to their benefit as Youssef El Fahli earned his side a penalty after being brought down by Hossam Abdelmeguid.

The referee had to consult the VAR to award the hosts the penalty, before defender and skipper Issoufou Dayo put his side in front in the 13th minute after sending Awad the wrong way.

The hosts kept on the pressure and managed to double their lead through Adil Tahif after converting Mohamed El Morabit’s free-kick cross with a header that faulted Awad.

Zamalek’s first chance of the game came in the 43rd minute when Ahmed Fetouh brilliantly found Jaziri with a cross, but the Tunisian’s header was brilliantly turned away by the keeper.

Just a minute into the second-half, Jaziri redeemed himself as he scored a vital away goal for Zamalek with a brilliant header following a cross from Ahmed Sayed Zizo.

RS Berkane were very keen on restoring their two-goal lead, but couldn’t break Zamalek’s defence, with Youssef Mehri hitting the post with a long-range effort.

Hamza El Moussaoui came also so close to scoring for Berkane, but was denied from close range by Mohamed Awad in the 65th minute.

Zamalek relied heavily on counter-attacks as they sit deep in their half and the game eventually finished in a 2-1 victory for the hosts.

The return-leg will take place next Sunday, May 19 at the Cairo International Stadium, with Zamalek needing to win just 1-0 to claim their second-ever CAF Confederation Cup title.