Al-Merrikh, Raja Casablanca and AmaZulu FC recorded home victories in their CAF Champions League group stage fixtures.
Al-Merreikh beats Al-Hilal
Al-Merrikh of Sudan clinched the bragging rights from the Sudanese derby as they downed rivals Al-Hilal 2-1 at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo in their Group A match.
Al-Merrikh started the game with a bang, opening the scoring in the third minute of play.
Saadeldin Elsamani opened the scoring with a neat finish, planting the ball into the net after Hilal goalkeeper Abou Eshrein came off his line.
Merrikh were dominant and the early goal gave them more courage and confidence to command the game.
However, against the run of play, their bitter rivals equalized through skipper Mohamed Abdel Raman at the half hour mark. The captain picked up a pass from Eid Mugadam before finishing off a counter attack.
But Merrikh could not let their slender lead slip off and just before the break, Saadeldin completed his brace scoring the second for Merrikh, finishing off a pass from Nigerian import Tony Edjomariegwe.
In the second half, Hilal tried to bring in some pressure for the equalizer, but Merrikh guarded their rear with caution to see off the victory and bag the maximum points.
Raja stuns Horoya in Group B
Raja Club Athletic welcomed fans back to the stadium in Morocco with a third consecutive 1-0 result, as they sunk Guinean side Horoya AC to remain unbeaten and top of Group B.
Friday was the first time fans were allowed back to the stadium in Morocco since the COVID-19 pandemic started two years ago. Raja ensured they gave them something to smile about, with a slim, yet assured victory in Casablanca.
The victory took the Green Eagles to nine points, three ahead of second placed AmaZulu who had earlier on seen off ES Setif by the same margin in Durban.
Having lost both their opening fixtures via the same margin, Horoya had come into the tie determined to pick a shock result in Casablanca, but they were not efficient in the final third, losing many scoring opportunities.
The second half was swung to the favour of the home side. They pressured Horoya seeking a goal, but the striking duo of Kadima Kabangu and Beni Badibanga saw their chances go begging.
They were however rewarded in the 67th minute when captain Mouhsine Moutaouali took advantage after Horoya keeper Moussa Camara strolled off his line to finish off and score the only goal of the match.
The home side managed to hold on to the slim victory to ensure their hopes of a quarter final berth remain alive.
The Guineans on the other end now see their hopes reduced, a third successive defeat leaving them wallowing at the bottom of the group.
AmaZulu cements hold on second spot
South African debutants AmaZulu beat Algeria’s ES Setif by a solitary goal in Durban to cement their hold on second spot in Group B.
Amigo Memela’s goal in the 42nd minute was the difference as Usuthu picked up their second consecutive group stage win to move to six points.
It was a competitive tie between the two sides, but on the balance of chances, it was the hosts who commanded more of the action in the final third.
Siphelele Mthembu had a golden chance to hit the home side infront when he dribbled past the goalkeeper after a defensive blunder from Setif, but he could not hit the target from a tight angle.
Zambian Augustine Mulenga also had an opportunity infront of goal but placed his shot wide.
Setif’s best chance of the opening half was on the half hour mark, but Ziti Khoutir forced a golden save off the AmaZulu keeper when he struck at goal with a well executed acrobatic attempt.
But it was the hosts who would break the deadlock, Mmela curling in a brilliant ball from outside the box, to give his side a 1-0 advantage three minutes to the break.
In the second half, the South Africans continued to press, but couldn’t add on to their tally. Despite some late pressure from Setif, Benny McCarthy’s men secured the victory to boost their quarter final hopes.
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