Cape Town City missed out on a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages after losing 1-0 to USM in the second leg of their play-off tie on Wednesday night.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: USM Alger 1-0 Cape Town City (1-0 on aggregate)
Date: 09 November 2022
Venue: Stade du 8 Mai
The Citizens made only one change to the side that drew nil-nil with the same side in the first-leg a week ago, as Mduduzi Mdantsane was recalled in place of Thabo Nadada, with Wayde Lekay and Khanyisa Mayo leading the attack.
The game was open in the early exchanges as City had some bright moments but Alger came the closest to going ahead on 19 minutes after forcing a save out of goalkeeper Darren Keet.
Eric Tinkler's charges looked to carve out opportunities through the guile of Mpho Makola and Mdantsane in midfield but they were not quite connecting with Mayo and Lekay yet.
The Algerian side remained a danger on transitions as they came close to snatching a valuable away goal just before half
time but Keet made a point-blank save to keep the sides deadlocked at halftime.
The hosts had the opportunity they were looking for on a transition attack around the hour-mark after Mayo broke through on goal but his final pass towards Mdantsane was crucially intercepted.
However, City upped their intensity going forward with the fresh legs of Taahir Goedeman helping their cause.
City had a strong penalty appeal in the last ten minutes after Mayo rounded goalkeeper Oussama Benbot and was brought down in the box through on goal but the referee was not persuaded.
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) November 9, 2022
With the game on the edge, Alger eventually broke the deadlock in the last minute courtesy of a long range strike by Islam Merili, which gave the visitors a precious away goal.
City needed to two score two goals without conceding in stoppage time to progress to the group stages and that proved to be a tall order, as the Algerian side held on to progress to the group stages by the same 1-0 scoreline also on aggregate.
Here's how they lined up:
Cape Town City: Keet, Mkhize, Cupido, Fielies, Van Heerden, Mokeke, Ambina, Makola, Mayo, Mdantsane, Lekay.
Subs: Mpandle, Bender, Kajally, Darwin, Martin, Rhodes, Goedeman, Nodada
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