Cairo giants Al-Ahly and Zamalek both suffered potentially crippling defeats in the CAF Champions League’s group stage.
Sundowns stuns Al-Ahly in Group A
Thapelo Morena scored just four minutes after coming on as Mamelodi Sundowns stunned holders Al-Ahly with a 1-0 defeat at the Cairo International Stadium in their CAF Champions League Group A match Saturday.
Morena had just come on for Themba Zwane in the 81st minute and just four minutes into the pitch, he struck an unstoppable shot that handed Sundowns victory over their former coach Pitso Mosimane.
It was the first time in six attempts that the South African side were not just winning, but scoring a goal against the Egyptian giants.
The victory was vital as it took Masandawana top of the group with seven points while Ahly are second after just a point from two matches.
Morena scored with five minutes left on the clock with a thumping shot that left Mohamed el-Shenawy rooted to his spot after Shalulile had picked up a poorly cleared ball and put it on a silver platter for the substitute.
While Morena scored the winner, veteran goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene who was standing in for the injured Dennis Onyango pulled off a brilliant save in the fourth minute of added time to pluck off a header from Yasser Ibrahim off a corner.
And just before they conceded, Ahly lost a glorious opportunity when Rushine De Reuck blocked a shot from Amr el-Solia off the line after keeper Mweene spilled a cross at the Egyptian attacker’s feet.
It had been an end to end tie and duly ended with as much drama. Each side had chances to score.
The Red Devils had a chance after 18 minutes but Hamdi Fathi’s header off an Ali Maaloul cross was blocked by Brian Mandela.
Aliou Dieng had two chances with long range shots, but both went over. Maaloul also had a well struck freekick saved by Mweene.
In the second half, the same tempo was maintained and Sundowns came very close in the 52nd minute but Lyle Lakay’s curling effort came off the crossbar.
Lakay had another chance five minutes later with a venomous drive from the left, but the effort was pushed away at full flight by El-Shenawy.
Ahly had been piling the pressure in the final quarter of the match to try get a goal, but their efforts were needled off by Morena’s late goal.
Wydad beats Zamalek in Group D
Two-time champions Wydad Club Athletic came from a goal down to beat Zamalek 3-1 at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca and cement their hold on second spot in Group D.
The victory takes them to six points after three matches, while pressure is on Zamalek who is winless in three matches.
Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’ had given Zamalek a third minute lead, but Wydad, pushed on by the brilliant home crowd, came from down to lead 2-1 at the break and adding a third late on.
Wydad went to the break with a 2-1 lead and a brilliant performance to cap it off, pushed on by the passionate home fans who have for the first time in two years been allowed back to the stadium.
They however had to come from a goal down. Zizo gave the White Knights a third minute lead with a thunderous shot from distance after being accorded time and space off an Achraf Bencharki pass.
But, the home side was not cowed despite going down early and they pinned Zamalek into their own half.
They were ultimately rewarded with the equalizer in the 27th minute when Zouheir El Moutaraji volleyed the ball into the net after Reda Jaadi’s initial shot inside the box was blocked.
Guy Mbenza had a chance to score in the 36th minute when his snap shot inside the box was turned behind for a corner by Mohamed Abou Gabal. On the second successive corner, Wydad scored through Amine Farhane.
The defender scored with an overhead kick after Abou Gabal’s punch from a corner fell kindly on his path and he simply volleyed the ball into an empty net.
Jaadi almost scored a third at the stroke of halftime, but his shot was saved by the Zamalek goalie.
In the second half, Zamalek pushed Wydad into their own half as they sought to level matters, but their decision in the final third let them down.
They were punished in the 88th minute when Wydad scored the third goal, skipper Yahya Jebrane scoring with a low finish in the box off a Muaid Ellafi cutback from the right.
Esperance, Etoile draw in Group C
Tunisian giants Esperance du Tunis and Etoile du Sahel played out to a goalless draw in their Group C derby of Tunis at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Radès Saturday.
Etoile had to finish the match with 10 men after Abdelrazak Bouazra was sent off for a second bookable offence with two minutes of regulation time to play.
The result leaves Esperance top of the group with five points while Etoile is second with three after three rounds of matches.
Playing on their home turf, it was Etoile who started off brighter and they had their first chance through Ivorian forward Souleymane Coulibaly, but the latter’s shot was kept out by Moez Ben Cherifia.
Esperance were stunned by the strong early start and they too pushed up their attack. They came close few minutes later, but Mohamed Ben Romdhane saw his well struck freekick come off the woodwork.
Etoile keeper Ali Jemal had to be at his best to keep out more efforts from Ben Romdhane and Kingsley Eduwo, who were constantly threatening.
In the second half, both teams stepped up in attack, but none was fortunate enough to find the back of the net.
Belouizdad defeats Galaxy in Group B
Kheiredine Merzougui struck a second half brace, the second goal coming in the third minute of added time as Algerian side CR Belouizdad beat Jwaneng Galaxy 2-1 in Francistown to move to second in Group B.
Merzougui had broken the deadlock in the 77th minute before Galaxy equalized seven minutes later, but a mistake from the keeper saw CRB cruise away with maximum points away from home.
The win takes the Algerians to five points, same as leaders Esperance while Jwaneng remain rooted at the bottom with just a single point.
Having played to morale boosting 1-1 draw against Etoile du Sahel last week, Galaxy were pumped up to go for a win and they ensured they played with caution and a strategy in the opening half. However, they couldn’t do much upfront and the first half ended barren.
The second half started in similar fashion, but the tempo picked up towards the final quarter.
In the 72nd minute, Mokhtar Belkhiter weighted a beautiful pass to substitute Hichem Khalfallah, but the forward’s control let him down as he was at the edge of the six yard box with only the keeper to beat.
They however broke the deadlock five minutes later when Merzougui controlled the ball beautifully inside the box off a Khalfalah pass and lifted it beautifully over the keeper.
But the home side were not about to go down without a fight and in the 84th minute they drew one back through Gilbert Baruti who controlled the ball on the right before shooting low beyond the keeper.
While they were pushing to try and get a possible winner, Jwaneng were undone by a howler from keeper Anthony Gouws who spilled a shot from Belkhiter with Merzougui reacting fastest to thump the ball home in the third minute of added time.
