TP Mazembe Englebert made heavy weather of the supposed formality of qualifying for their first CAF Champions League final in almost 40 years. The champions from DR Congo eventually overcame Al Hilal 5-4 on aggregate but turned what was supposed to be a routine second leg assignment into an afternoon of anguish on Sunday.

Mazembe, who reached the final of Africa's top club competition four times between 1967 and 1970, were always expected to reach this year's final after a convincing 5-2 away win over their Sudanese opponents in the first leg of the semi-final at the start of the month. The one-sided nature of their away triumph, the biggest at the semi-final stage of any previous edition of the competition, left them to complete the formalities in the return leg in Lubumbashi on Sunday.

Al Hilal needed a 4-0 win to conjour up the most unlikely of comebacks and few gave them any chance but after scoring twice in the first half, they suddenly turned a supposed fairy tale into a reality. Edward Sadomba took advantage of a defensive error to hand Al Hilal the lead after 26 minutes and then six minutes later went further ahead.  Mohamed Tahir ran through with only goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba to beat but had his effort blocked only for Zimbabwean-born Sadomba to roll in the rebound.

It caused panic and consternation at the Stade Kibasa Maliba in the southern Congolese city and Mazembe coach Diego Garzitto was forced to quickly set about reshuffling his side after having made several changes for the second leg. Out went the youngster Deo Kanda, given a first start in the CAF Champions League, and in came Narcisse Ekanga, with the Cameroonian providing a little more balance. Another change at half-time and then one more soon after the break allowed Mazembe a little more comfort and even helped them to set up some second half chances although Al Hilal were defensively well-organised.

In the end, it stayed 2-0 and Mazembe went through but the celebrations were muted by the concern at a sub-par display from Les Corbeaux, who despite pre-match promises stating their intent to be as ruthless as were in the first leg, were anything but. Mazembe will now play Heartland FC in the first leg of the final on Sunday, 1 November in Owerri with the return in Lubumbashi one week later. The winner will go to the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in December.