Mazembe, USM reach CAF Champions League final
 |
| AFP |
Mazembe scored three second-half goals to triumph 3-0 at home against Al Merrikh of Sudan in Lubumbashi and win the semi-final 4-2 on aggregate. Tanzanian Mbwana Samata bagged a second-leg brace for the Congolese Ravens before Ivorian Roger Assale completed the scoring in front of a capacity 20,000 Stade Mazembe crowd.
USM found another Sudanese outfit, Al Hilal, more stubborn opponents and had to settle for a 0-0 home draw at Stade Omar Hamadi, but progressed 2-1 on aggregate. The final will be played over two legs between October 30 and November 8 with first-time finalists USM enjoying home advantage first over four-time champions Mazembe.
At stake in the climax of the marquee African club competition will be a $1.5m first prize and a place in the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015.