CASABLANCA/ PRETORIA – Record winners Al-Ahly of Egypt has made it into a sixth consecutive semi-final of the CAF Champions League after holding off for a 0-0 draw with Morocco’s Raja Club Athletic in Casablanca.
The result sees the Red Devils go through 2-0 on aggregate, as they won by the same scoreline in the first-leg played in Cairo last week. They will now face Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis in the semi-final next month.
The Tunisians will host Ahly in the first-leg to be played early in May with the return clash scheduled to take place in Cairo a week later.
Raja has bowed out against Ahly for a second consecutive season, having also met the Egyptians at the same stage last term.
The home side will only have themselves to blame after squandering a myriad of scoring opportunities including a penalty right at half-time.
Playing at their iconic Mohamed V Complex, Raja hoped for a push from the crowd as they looked to overturn the 2-0 first leg deficit.
They pressured Ahly to defend deep and they had a chance finally after 28 minutes when Yousri Bouzouk found shooting space from a tight angle but Mohamed el-Shenawy made a great save for a corner.
At the stroke of half-time, Raja was handed a golden chance to break the deadlock when an on-field review of the VAR by the referee awarded them a penalty following an Aliou Dieng foul on Bouzouk inside the box.
The Algerian took responsibility on his shoulders, but sent his penalty cracking under the bar, much to the relief of the Ahly players.
In the second-half, Raja continued camping in Ahly’s half, but was never fortunate to score at least one goal to push their bid.
The two teams attacked each other after the restart with Hussein el-Shahat failing to hit the target in the 53rd minute and at the other end, Naoufel Zerhouni also failed to keep his attempt on target in the 66th minute.
With quarter of an hour gone, they had another superb opportunity when a superb cross from the right found the run of Hamza Khabba at the backpost, but the latter’s touch went wide with the keeper well beaten.
The Egyptian giants did their bit well, defending their aggregate cushion to make the last four and keep their hopes of an 11th African title alive.
Esperance reaches semis despite draw
Tunisian giants Esperance reached the semi-finals despite being held to 1-1 draw at home against Algerian side JS Kabylie.
The home side dominated the second-leg at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi and advanced 2-1 on aggregate after the tight game in Rades.
The Tunisian giants advanced thanks to their 1-0 first-leg win over their opponents in the first-leg of the quarter-final tie last week.
Mohamed Ben Romdhane was the hero for the home side as he scored the first goal of the match just four minutes after the break.
The striker latched onto a long ball floated by defender Yassine Meriah before outpacing his two markers and fired beyond goalkeeper into the bottom corner with his left foot.
Substitute Adem Redjem restored some hope for the visitors with five minutes remaining when he pounced on a lose ball after goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia failed to deal with a nicely hit effort from the edge of the box.
Kabylie piled on the pressure in search of the goal that could have helped them to stun the home side but goalkeeper Cherifia was resolute to secure his side’s progress to the last four of Africa’s flagship club football competition.
Esperance will now progress to the last four of the competition and will take Egyptian giants and record title holders Al-Ahly in the semi-finals.
Sundowns set up Wydad clash
In Pretoria, Mamelodi Sundowns’ quest for a second African title remained on course as they beat Algeria’s CR Belouizdad 2-1 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium to storm into the semi-finals.
Masandawana had to come from a goal down to earn victory on home soil, progressing 6-2 on aggregate having won the first leg 4-1 away from home last weekend.
Sundowns, winners of the title in 2016, have now set up a mouthwatering semi-final date against defending champions Wydad Athletic Club, who progressed to the last four after edging out Tanzania’s Simba 4-3 on post-match penalties.
Coming into the return fixture, the Algerians were under pressure to win by a margin of more than four goals to progress, while Sundowns only needed to avoid defeat or at worse, lose 2-0.
Belouizdad started well and they broke the deadlock after 24 minutes when Sofiane Bouchar finished from a corner.
The home side however battled and drew level at the stroke of halftime when Themba ‘Mshishi’ Zwane scored with a delightful finish after picking up a pass from Thapelo Morena.
Sundowns turned the tie into their favour four minutes into the second half, Morena turning from provider to scorer, heading home a well taken cross from Khuliso Mudau.
The Algerians tried to bulk up in a fight for the remaining minutes of the game, but Downs did enough to see off the tie.
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