Kaizer Chiefs’ CAF Confederation Cup campaign came to an end after losing 2-1 to Zamalek in their final group stage clash on Saturday evening.
Chiefs showed three changes from the win over Al Masry with George Matlou, Paseka Mako and Thabiso Monyane brought back in by Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze.
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It was a nervous start for the Amakhosi who were pinned back by the runs in and around the six-yard box by the White Knights but didn’t drop their heads and remained composed.
The Soweto giants did live on the edge a little later and needed a remarkable save by Brandon Petersen to smother a shot on the turn by Oday Dabbagh.
With the break approaching, Zamalek worked more openings when Ahmed Kamal steered a flick on by Juan Bezerra well across the face of the six-yard box.
Chiefs continued to concede chances in dangerous areas on the brink of the interval and saw Dabbagh head wide of the bottom-corner after attacking a cross into the area.
The White Knights coach Vegard Forren introduced Abdalla El Said before the start of the second half and replaced Kamal, with no changes for the Amakhosi.
After persistent pressure, Chiefs fell behind five minutes into the second half when Bezzera beat Monyane to a cross from Naser Mansy and headed in off the far post.
Zamalek doubled the lead within the closing 20 minutes after veteran winger El Said ran in unmarked on the right of the area and fired into the bottom-corner.
The Amakhosi refused to go down without a fight and four minutes later halved the tally when Glodly Lilepo rose high in the six-yard box to nod in a corner by Lebohang Maboe.
Chiefs, who needed another goal to ensure qualification to the quarter-finals, went on the attack with Mfundo Vilakazi and Khanyisa Mayo though couldn’t break down the host.
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In the end, the Amakhosi bundled out of the Confederation Cup after failing to get the much-needed equaliser as the White Knights progressed.
