RS Berkane overwhelm nervous Simba to seize advantage in CAF Confederation Cup final
- Andrew Olsson
- 22 hours ago
- 1 min read
Moroccan champions RS Berkane have a two-goal advantage in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup following Saturday's 2-0 first leg victory at home over Simba SC of Tanzania.
The hosts pressed relentlessly in the opening quarter hour at the Stade Municipal Berkane, a strategy that paid instant dividends against an overwhelmed Simba side. After RSB's high pressure led to a corner kick in the 8th minute, Senegalese midfielder Mamadou Camara evaded Simba's poor marking to powerfully head in Hamza El Moussaoui's corner kick.
Things soon got worse for the visitors six minutes later. In a sequence that exemplified the opening minutes, nervous passing in the back from Simba resulted in another turnover. With the Simba defense desperately retreating, Imad Riahi's cross from the left wing found Oussama Lamlioui who skillfully turned and finished past Simba goalkeeper Moussa Camara.
To their credit, Simba managed to gain their composure and keep things from spiraling out of control. Right back Shomari Kapombe caused danger down the flank and in first half stoppage time his cross found Jean Charles Ahoua at the far post, who fired off target.
Simba's effort improved in the second half but the Dar es Salaam giants were fortunate to escape conceding a third goal when Youssef Mehri's strike was waived off for offsides following a VAR review. Simba applied some pressure in the final half hour but RSB held on to take a two-goal lead back to Zanzibar, where the teams will meet again for the second leg on May 25 (15:00 GMT).
