IN a match that epitomized the unpredictability of football, Simba SC exhibited dominance in possession and attacking intent but succumbed to a 2 0 defeat against Al Masry in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter finals on Wednesday evening at the New Suez Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt.

For Simba fans, the scoreline stings not because their team was outplayed, but because they dominated large spells of the game particularly in the second half yet walked away empty handed.

This was a match where the Msimbazi Reds showcased their attacking intent, only to be let down by a blunt frontline and a clinical Al Masry side that made the most of their rare chances.

The game kicked off with both teams trading blows in a frantic opening. Simba, under the guidance of coach Fadlu Davids, pressed high, looking to unsettle the Egyptians early. Al Masry, however, weathered the storm and gradually took control.

In the 16th minute, Abderrahim Deghmoum broke the deadlock with a well taken goal, settling the home crowd’s nerves and putting Simba on the back foot. 

It was a moment of quality from the hosts, but Simba refused to buckle. They pushed numbers forward, probing for an equalizer, only to find Al Masry’s defense resolute and unforgiving.

The second half was where Simba truly turned the screws. Coming out of the break with renewed vigour, they dictated the tempo, pinning Al Masry back in their own half. 

The stats from Sofascore paint a clear picture of their dominance: Simba held 58% possession compared to Al Masry’s 42%, fired off 21 shots to the hosts’ eight, and earned seven corners to Al Masry three.

Yet, for all their control, only four of those shots were on target, a damning statistic that tells the story of an evening where profligacy reigned supreme. 

Al Masry, by contrast, managed four shots on target from their eight attempts, converting two into goals. Efficiency, not volume, won the day.

Simba’s attacking play was relentless but lacked the cutting edge. Wave after wave of attacks crashed against a disciplined Al Masry backline, with the likes of Ellie Mpanzu, Leonel Ateba and Kibu Denis struggling to find the killer touch.

The hosts, content to soak up pressure, struck a decisive blow in the 89th minute through Nigerian striker John Ebuka. 

His late goal, a dagger to Simba’s hopes, exposed a lapse in concentration at the back and handed Al Masry a two-goal cushion heading into the return leg in Dar es Salaam next week.

For Simba supporters, this loss is a frustrating paradox. Simba outshot Al Masry by a wide margin (21 8), completed more passes (432 to 318), and boasted a higher pass accuracy (82% to 76%). 

They dominated the duels, winning 54 to Al Masry 46, and even edged the aerial battles (16 -13). Yet, the scoreboard reads 2 0 to the Egyptians.

The conclusion is inescapable: Simba’s wastefulness in front of goal and defensive frailty at key moments cost them dearly. 

Al Masry didn’t need to dominate possession or pepper the goal, they just needed to be clinical, and they were.

As Simba regroup for the second leg at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the task is clear but daunting. A two-goal deficit is not insurmountable, especially with home support roaring them on, but it demands a sharper edge in attack and tighter defending.

The stats show Simba have the tools to turn this tie around; they outplayed Al Masry in almost every metric except the one that matters most: goals. 

For Davids and his charges, the message is simple: convert dominance into results, or this CAF Confederation Cup dream will slip away.

Msimbazi Reds’ fans will be praying for a turnaround, but Wednesday’s lesson in Egypt is a stark reminder football rewards efficiency, not effort alone.