Defending champions Al-Ahly of Egypt scored two goals within a minute in the second half as they survived a scare from Al-Merrikh of Sudan in Cairo to win 3-1 and put their hopes of defending their CAF Champions League title squarely on course.
The Red Devils had gone ahead through Percy Tau’s first-half strike but Merrikh drew level in the second-half through Ramadan Agab.
But, Ahly, who were playing as the away team in Cairo, scored in the 72nd and 73rd minutes through striker Mohamed Sherif and winger Ahmed Abdel-Kader to bag all three points.
The win now takes the Red Devils to seven points with one match remaining, what looks a likely finale against another Sudanese side, Al-Hilal. Merrikh meanwhile lost their third successive match and see their quarter-final hopes diminished.
Having suffered back to back defeats against Mamelodi Sundowns, Ahly was under pressure to deliver a win and retain their hopes.
They were off to a flier and got a 19th minute lead when Tau capitalised on a poor defensive header from Hamza Dawood before striking a low shot into the net. The holders held on to this lead till halftime.
In the second half, Ahly came back stronger and were denied by the bar in the 52nd minute when Agab curled the ball onto the woodwork after picking up a cross from Tony Edjomariegwe.
The striker however got his much desired goal on the hour mark when he pounced on the ball after keeper Mohamed el-Shenawy punched a shot from Hussien Nooh Mohamed right into his path.
But Ahly quickly regrouped and went back into the lead in the 72nd minute when Sherif finished off Ali Maaloul’s cross with a first time shot.
Immediately after the restart, substitute Abdel-Kader who had just spent 10 minutes on the pitch pick pocketed a Merrikh defender of the ball at the edge of the box before dribbling in and scoring with some delightful finish.
The Egyptian giants held on to the lead and the three points to boost their bid for a ticket into the quarter-finals.
Raja sails into quarters
Raja Club Athletic are through to the tournament’s quarter-finals after completing the double over South African debutants AmaZulu, beating them 2-0 at their turf in Durban.
Having beaten them 1-0 when they met in the first-leg in Casablanca, Raja made it a home and away sweep with goals in either half from the Adadad duo of Hamid and Illias.
The victory in South Africa takes Raja to 12 points with one match to go while AmaZulu’s fairytale run now hangs in the balance as they remain third with six points.
Hamid got the Green Eagles ahead after six minutes when he beautifully exchanged passes with Mohsine Moutaouali. The skipper sent him through on goal with a delightful chip behind the defense and Hamid did justice to the pass with another beautiful lob over the advancing keeper.
The Algerian visitors had another chance when the AmaZulu keeper spilled a cross from Moutaouali, the ball falling on Marouane Hadhoudi’s path. However, the cenyral defender clipped the ball over the bar.
Mohamed Nahiri lined up next with a chance for the visitors, this time his freekick from 30 yards out attracting a brilliant save from the keeper.
In the second half, Raja kept their attack and keeper Veli Mothwa made another brilliant save in the 73rd minute, this time denying Hamid an opportunity for a brace with a corner off a cross from the left.
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