CAIRO/ CASABLANCA – Record champions Al-Ahly of Egypt clinched their first victory in Group B of the CAF Champions League after seeing off Cameroon’s Cotonsports 3-0 in Cairo’s Al-Salam Stadium.
Striker Mohamed Sherif and Algerian midfielder Ahmed Kendouci gave the Red Devils a 2-0 lead at half-time before youngster midfielder Khalil Raafat scored the third deep into stoppage time in the second-half.
The win took Ahly to four points, two shy of second placed Sudan’s Al-Hilal and four behind group leaders South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
Cotonsport on the other hand suffered their third successive defeat and remains bottom of the table with no point.
The Egyptian giants will face group’s leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on Friday in the 4th round in South Africa.
Ahly knew they had to win to put their campaign on track and it took them just 53seconds to get into the lead, Sherif breaking the deadlock with a fine finish from a Taher Mohamed cross.
The Red Devils continued dominating and were a threat in front of goal. They were denied by the bar minutes later when midfielder Hamdi Fathi struck from inside the box.
The home side was forced into a change with 10 minutes to the break, Sherif limping off and replaced by striker Shadi Hussein.
Five minutes to the break, Ahly pulled themselves a distance safe when Kendouci finished off an assist from Ali Maaloul with a fine header, his first goal for Ahly after joining them last month.
Al-Ahly dominated as much in the second-half, with chances to score but couldn’t extend the tally.
They however achieved a third goal to put the game to bed in the 92nd minute, Maaloul turning provider again, this time laying off for Khalil to score the third.
Wydad beats Vita to top Group A
Defending champions Wydad Athletic Club moved top of Group A of the after edging out AS Vita Club 1-0 at a loud Mohamed V Complex in Casablanca.
Mohamed Ounajem’s deflected strike, later credited as a Guy Magema’s own goal, was the difference in the catch-up fixture Casablanca.
The victory takes Wydad to six points, adding on to last weekend’s identical win over Petro de Luanda.
The lone goal of the match was scored in the 55th minute. Ounajem, barely seconds into the pitch, made a daunting run on the right taking a shot that deflected off Magema to beat the keeper at his near post. The winger had just come on for Hicham Boussefiane.
Prior to that, Wydad had dominated the match against a Vita side that had chosen to play behind the ball, but were yet to break the deadlock.
In the opening half, the best chance was in the 28th minute when Bouly Junior Sambou rose to head from a corner, but the effort was denied by the crossbar.
In the second-half, Wydad were off faster off the blocks and changes made by the returning coach Juan Carlos Garrido paid off just 10 minutes after the restart.
From then on, it was Wydad all the way, with Vita defending deep. With bodies defending from the edge of the box, the home side tried to change tact and shoot from distance with keeper Yahya Jebrane twice denied by the keeper.
On the hour mark, they had a golden chance to extend the lead when the ball was clipped to right back Ayoub el-Amloud, but his shot was saved one on one with the keeper.
Late into the match, substitute Muaid Ellafi had a similar chance, but his shot on goal rolled wide.
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