CAIRO — Egyptian giants Al-Ahly kept their chase for a record extending 11th title alive with a 2-0 victory over Raja Club Athletic in the first-leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-final.
Defender Mohamed Abdelmonem and midfielder Hamdi Fathi were on target in either half at the Cairo International Stadium to give the record 10-time African champions Ahly an early advantage heading into next week’s return fixture in Casablanca.
Abdelmonem broke the deadlock at the stroke of half-time, towering above his marker to thump home a header from Tunisian left-back Ali Maaloul cross from the left.
The home side was rewarded for their industry in the opening half, having commanded 60pc of the possession.
But, Raja had two close chances to score, which would have changed the face of the game. Mohamed Nahiri had a stinging free-kick from distance brilliantly saved by Al-Ahly’s goalkeeper Mohamed el-Shenawy early on.
The Ahly keeper was called into action again when Walid Sabbar released Mohamed Zrida through on goal, but the custodian made another brilliant save to keep his side in the game.
On the other end, Al-Ahly had a goal disallowed when forward Mahmoud Kahraba deflected a cross into the net, but it was ruled out for offside.
In the second-half Al-Ahly looked to consolidate their lead and they did so six minutes from time when Fathi was picked out by a brilliant lofted ball from South African winger Percy Tau and he made no mistake with a brilliant volley.
Sundowns stun Belouizdad
Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa laid down a marker on their ambition for a second continental title after earning a massive 4-1 away victory over Algeria’s CR Belouizdad in their first-leg clash.
Peter Shalulile put up a brilliant performance with two goals and an assist for Neo Maema while Cassius Mailula added a late fourth as Masandawana left North Africa with a resounding victory.
The win in Algiers eases pressure on their shoulders ahead of the return fixture in Pretoria next weekend.
The Brazilians stamped their authority right from the start and they broke the deadlock after just six minutes when Shalulile powered home a header from the edge of the six yard box off an Aubrey Modiba cross.
The Namibian hotshot turned from scorer to provider in the 20th minute as Sundowns doubled their lead, cutting back a cross into the area that Maema thumped home with a powerful side-footed shot.
At the stroke of half-time, Miloud Rebiai restored some hope for the home side when he headed into the net from a corner, halving the deficit and giving themselves a fighting chance in the second-half.
However, things didn’t go to plan as it was Sundowns who would extend their lead, Shalulile doubling his tally for the night with a goal six minutes from the restart.
The goal seemingly killed off Belouizdad’s hopes of a comeback and Sundowns dominated much of the play.
On form Mailula would seal the victory with the fourth goal in the second minute of added time, a strike that put Downs one foot into the last four.
Esperance beats Kabylie
Tunisia’s Esperance drew first blood in the first-leg of the quarter-final against Algeria’s JS Kabylie, winning 1-0 away from home to earn a precious first-leg advantage.
Mohamed Ali Ben Hammouda notched the vital goal in the second-half to give Taraji the slim advantage heading into next week’s corresponding fixture in Rades.
Hammouda scored 10 minutes after the restart thanks to some quick thinking by Hamdou Elhouni who quickly started a throw in sending his teammate through into the box.
The forward made no mistake, curling the ball beyond the keeper to break the deadlock.
The home side would feel hardly undone by the goal as they had the most and the best of scoring chances especially in the first-half.
In the 28th minute, they had a good chance when Mohamed Boumechra took a strike at goal after a brilliant cutback from Kouceila Boualia found him unmarked inside the box, but the Esperance keeper Moez ben Cherifia made a brilliant save.
Five minutes later Boualia had his turn with a shot at goal when he took a great curling effort on target, but it was blocked for a corner.
In the second-half, just after going ahead, Esperance did well to seal their single goal advantage.
The home side, pushed on by a partisan home crowd in Algiers threw everything to draw level.
In the dying minutes of the game, they had an opportunity to draw level when substitute Mustapha Alili wriggled his way past a forest of legs on the left, but his shot was blocked well by the keeper.
Kabylie’s efforts with six added minutes couldn’t conjure a draw, and will now have their work cut out heading to next week’s return fixture on enemy territory.
Simba defeats Wydad
Simba SC of Tanzania picked a 1-0 win at home, earning a slim advantage over defending champions Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco in the first-leg of the quarter-final in Dar es Salaam.
John Beleke’s first-half goal gave the Tanzanian giants the much-needed home ground victory and will have all to work for in the return fixture in Casablanca next week.
Simba ensured they consolidated a win at home after a good performance, and would have made the score even wider had they finished the chances they had.
Beleke scored the winning goal on the half hour mark when he did well to turn home a Dennis Kibu ball into the net.
The goal gave Simba improved confidence and they played with more command, powered by the partisan home crowd.
After the break, Wydad and their head coach Juan Carlos Garrido made changes as they tried to rally back, but they couldn’t get their act together in the final third.
Simba could have added a second at the tail end of the game when Clatous Chama had a glorious opportunity, but the Zambian international could not hit the target.
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