KHARTOUM – Sudan’s Al-Hilal used their home-ground advantage to stun record CAF Champions League winners Al-Ahly of Egypt, beating them 1-0.
The Red Devils are now 3rd in Group B ranking with no points from one match in hands. Al-Hilal, who lost their first game in the group stage against Mamelodi Sundowns last week, now lies in 2nd place with three points.
Makabi Lilepo scored the winner in the second half, and should have had two but saw his penalty missed.
The victory was massive for Hilal who earned their first victory of the group phase, with Ahly starting off with a loss.
This was the Egyptian side’s first group stage match, having missed the opening weekend due to their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Al-Ahly was the dangerous side for most of the opening half with winger Hussein el-Shahat coming close in the sixth minute while Percy tau saw his 33rd minute effort turned behind for a corner.
Lilepo had Hilal’s closest chance in the opening half two minutes to the break when his shot from the left channel was turned behind for a corner by goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy.
The Sudanese giants started the second half stronger and were rewarded just 10 minutes after the restart when Lilepo hit the back of the net.
He should have doubled his tally 10 minutes later, but the Congolese forward saw his penalty saved by El-Shenawy.
Al-Ahly tried to pile in the pressure, but Hilal defended well.
The Red Devils will now take on group leaders Mamelodi Sundowns next Saturda, under pressure to earn maximum points. Al-Hilal will be away to Cotonsport in Garoua next Friday.
Vipers 0-0 Horoya
Elsewhere in Kampala, Ugandan group stage debutants Horoya bounced back from last weekend’s 5-0 crushing defeat away to Raja Club Athletic with a point in a 0-0 draw at home against Horoya.
The Guineans have moved to four points having started off with a 1-0 victory over Simba SC last weekend.
Vipers had to play the last 12 minutes of the match with 10 men after Issa Mubiru was sent off for a second yellow card.
Both sides had chances, but none was lucky enough to hit the back of the net.
Vipers will next take on Simba SC in what will be a nicely set up East African derby while Horoya will travel up north to take on Raja in Casablanca.
Raja downs Simba
Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca continued with their emphatic start to the group stages after seeing off Tanzania’s Simba 3-0 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Simba looked to have held their own, but cracked in the final 10 minutes of the game to concede twice and diminish their slimmest hopes to take at least a draw from the game.
Hamza Khabba had given the visitors a first half lead, but Simba seemed to have picked themselves up and looked determined for a good result at home.
However, Soufiane Benjdida scored the second for Raja in the 83rd minute before Ismail Mokadem’s penalty two minutes later sealed the victory.
With the result, Raja, who last weekend thrashed Uganda’s Vipers 5-0 sit top of Group C with a maximum six points while Simba sit bottom of the group with zero points after back to back losses.
Khabba gave Raja the lead on the half hour mark with a beautiful strike into the roof of the net from the edge of the box after being played through by Zakaria Habti.
It was a well deserved lead as they had played better, and they took it to the halftime break.
In the second half, Simba came back more determined and pushed Raja to defend deep, looking for that crucial goal to take them back into the tie.
John Bocco came close when he slid in to try to connect to a Clatous Chama freekick but he was a few seconds late as Anas Zniti collected the ball before him.
Simba continued their push, but were put off with seven minutes left when Benjdida scored the second for Raja.
The substitute who had just spent six minutes on the pitch controlled the ball inside the box before volleying beyond Aishi Manula.
Raja sealed the tie two minutes later when Mokadem scored from the spot after Joash Onyango committed a foul inside the box.
Simba tried to rally late for a goal back with Moses Phiri and Jean Baleke having shots go just wide.
Vita Club 1-2 Petro de Luanda
Elsewhere in Kinshasa, Petro de Luanda picked up a precious 2-1 win away to AS Vita Club. Tiago Azulao and Anderson Cruz scored in either half, while Vita’s consolation was scored by Eric Kabwe.
With the result, Petro who started their campaign with a draw against JS Kabilye move top of the group with four points.
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