Flavio Silva opened the scoring with a 34th minute penalty but Abderrarhim Deghmoum got the Egyptian Premier League team back into the tie with a 56th minute leveller.

Chiefs though were quickly back on top with Aiden McCarthy on target two minutes later, for their third win in five group games to sit on 10 points, two clear of second-placed Zamelek, and three points better off than Al Masry in third. ZESCO United are bottom of the group with three points.

A two-goal margin win would have sealed Amakhosi's qualification for the knockout phase. As it stands they have one final qualifier with Zamelek on Sunday, 15 February.

Chiefs made five changes to their line-up for this game with Dillan Solomons, Zitha Kwinika, Lebohang Maboe, Pule Mmodi and Glody Lilepo all back in the line-up to replace Thabiso Monyane, Paseka Mako, Given Msimango, Mduduzi Shabalala and Gaston Sirino, who started Wednesday's 2-1 Nedbank Cup defeat to Stellenbosch.

After a cagey start to this tie, it was Chiefs who threatened first and took the lead from a well-taken Flavio Silva spot-kick after Al Masry captain Ahmed Mansour was adjudged to have handled the ball from a Glody Lilepo shot.

Salah Shalabi did well to get a shot away shortly after but he failed to test Chiefs captain Brandon Petersen.

Mduduzi Shabalala should have done better with a shot that was saved by Al Masry goalkeeper Mahmoud Hamdy before Silva hit the side netting with the last real chance of the first half.

Al Masry were much improved after the break and found a deserved leveller through Deghmoum from a tight angle as Given Msimango dallied on the ball and lost possession.

McCarthy was, however, quickest to react to a set-piece just two minutes later to slot home from close range. The ball dropped to him inside the box after Hamdy saved Zitha Kwinika's initial effort.

Mduduzi Shabalala should have killed off the game on the hour mark but saw his shot deflect off target, and Pule Mmodi fired wildly over the bar with 10 minutes of the game to play.

McCarthy, who picked up a yellow card in the first half is now suspended for the trip to Zamalek.

Elsewhere, Stellenbosch lost 3-0 to Otoho d'Oyo to sit bottom of Group C with four points.

Malesela challenges Gallants to stay on track