Petro Luanda of Angola and perennial title challengers Wydad Casablanca of Morocco became the first qualifiers for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
But there was no joy for two of the three most successful sides in the marquee African club competition with Al-Ahly and Zamalek of Egypt both losing in a drama-filled matchday 4.
Chabab Belouizdad and Entente Setif of Algeria, Esperance of Tunisia and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa all won and are set to make the knockout stage.
Raja Casablanca of Morocco conceded and lost for the first time in six qualifying and group matches, but should still advance while goal-shy Ahly can go through, but only as a group runner-up.
The CAF Champions League will return on March 18 and 19 with matchday five fixtures across the continent.
Sundowns completes double over Ahly
Mamelodi Sundowns moved to within a point of qualification to the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League after completing a double over defending champions Al-Ahly, beating them 1-0 in Johannesburg.
The victory took Sundowns to 10 points, six ahead of Al-Ahly, Al-Merrikh and Al-Hilal who are all on four points, with two rounds of matches left.
While Sundowns is comfortably wheeling into the last eight, holders Ahly now has a mountain to climb as they must win their last two games to enhance their hopes of making the quarters.
The South African side meanwhile replicated the same result they picked in Cairo last week, this time Peter Shalulile scoring a first half goal to secure the three points.
Shalulile hit the back of the net in the 23rd minute finishing off Lyle Lakay’s corner at the backpost, guiding the ball home with his thigh.
Ahly was restricted most of the opening half, and their only shot on target was through former Sundowns man Percy Tau whose low effort from outside the box was calmly collected by veteran Zambian keeper Kennedy Mweene.
In the second half, Sundowns had more chances and Mohamed el-Shenawy had to be on his toes to keep his side in the game. He made a good full stretched save in the 63rd minute, pushing away Haashim Domingo’s effort for a corner.
He made another superb save in the 73rd minute, coming off his line to make his body big and block a shot from Pavol Safranko who had run into a brilliant through ball from Themba Zwane.
In the final 10 minutes of the game, Ahly piled the pressure and had two golden chances. In the 80th minute, Mohamed Magdy Afsha collected the ball from distance but his drive at goal was calmly collected by the keeper.
Substitute Hossam Hassan had an even better chance with eight minutes left when a brilliant cross from Ali Maaloul found him unmarked but the striker flushed his header wide.
The Egyptian giants could not conjure a comeback despite increased pressure.
Petro earns quarter final slot alongside Wydad
The quarter-final qualification business of Group D in the CAF Champions League has been concluded with two matches left as Angolan side Petro de Luanda and Morocco’s Wydad Club Athletic booked their places in the last eight.
Petro stormed top of the group after beating Angolan rivals G.D. Sagrada Esperanca 3-0 in Luanda to move top with 10 points.
Wydad dropped to second and after their 1-0 victory over Egyptian giants Zamalek Friday, they have also progressed with nine points.
This means that third placed Zamalek who is on two points from four matches has been eliminated and will only play the last two games for pride.
Esperanca is bottom of the pile with just one point collected from their home draw with Zamalek and are also out.
Heading into match day four, Esperanca was in a must win situation to keep their hopes alive, but instead, Petro completed a home and away sweep to move top of the log.
Petro got into the lead just 16 seconds into the match when skipper Tiago Azulao volleyed the ball home from inside the box after picking up a cross from Gleison on the right.
It was a perfect start for Petro who have been brilliant throughout the group phases.
They continued dominating the match and they had to wait until the last minute of the opening half when Azulao added his second of the afternoon, sliding in to poke the ball home after the keeper had spilled a shot from distance.
In the second half they continued their dominance and they almost made it 2-0 when Celso had a shot come off the woodwork after controlling a cross from Carlinhos inside the box.
They however got the third goal at the death off the penalty spot after a foul inside the box. Erico Castro stepped up and expertly put the ball into the net for a comfortable 3-0 victory.
ES Setif beats AmaZulu to throw Group B wide open
Algeria’s ES Setif skipped to second spot in Group B after a 2-0 victory over South African debutants AmaZulu in Algiers.
Setif made up for the 1-0 loss they suffered against Usuthu in South Africa a fortnight ago to move to six points, enhancing their chances of making it into the quarter finals.
Group B remains wide open with two matches left to play after Horoya’s 2-1 victory at home over Raja Club Athletic earlier in the day handed them a lifeline as they moved to three points.
Setif picked the cue and clinched three vital points courtesy of first half goals from Riad Benayad and Akram Djahnit.
The home side were off to a hunt from the word go and broke the deadlock after 10 minutes. Benayad zoomed into the box after picking a delightful through ball from Ahmed Kendouci before slamming the ball home.
In the 24th minute, Benayad almost grabbed his second of the evening when he played a one-two change of passes with Zoubir Motrani, but his shot was blocked by the keeper.
Amazulu struggled to create chances and had two sniffs at goal in the opening exchanges. Keegan Buchanan struck a freekick towards Thambela Sikhakhane at the backpost but the defender could not connect on target.
In the 36th minute, Luvuyo Memela attempted his luck with a setpiece from range, but he lifted it a few inches over the bar.
The home side however doubled their tally at the stroke of halftime when Djahnit finished off neatly inside the box after some quick change of passes with Benayad.
In the second half, Amazulu piled the pressure but once again, their ball in the final third let them down. In the 64th minute they came close when a cross from Augustine Mulenga found the path of Tapelo Xoki, but the midfielder headed wide.
Towards the end it was Setif who had the chances and keeper Veli Mothwa had to make two fine saves, denying Abdelhak Debbari’s shot inside the box before also putting away Benayad’s attempt at a brace.
Horoya beats Raja, revives quarter-final hopes
Raja Club Athletic suffered their first defeat of the 2020-21 CAF Champions League campaign after going down 2-1 away to Horoya in a Group B fixture at the Stade General Lansana Conte in Conakry.
Horoya came from a goal down to win the tie at home and revenge for the 1-0 defeat they suffered in Casablanca a fortnight ago.
The win sees Horoya pick their first victory of the group phase, though they remain bottom of the pile. They however retain a mathematical chance of making it into the quarter-finals if they win their last two matches.
Despite the loss, Raja remained top of the group with nine points and have fate in their own hands as far as qualification is concerned.
Raja broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Hamid Ahadad tapped the ball home at the back post when skipper Mohsine Moutaouali’s corner was deflected to the back post.
But, Horoya kept their fight knowing only a win would put them at a good position to battle for a quarter final slot. They kept the pressure and almost had a goal but Mandela Ocansey’s effort from a corner was cleared off the line.
But, there was no stopping the skipper in the 26th minute when he levelled the scores, when he controlled a cross from the left before shooting beyond the keeper.
They completed their comeback and went into the lead three minutes later when Yakhouba Barry thundered a penalty home after a foul inside the box.
In the second half, Raja piled the pressure as they sought to get back into the game. Horoya were also not willing to let their grasp off the game and they should have had a third goal, but Boniface Haba failed to score with a clear chance unmarked.
In the 63rd minute, Raja almost drew level, but substitute Kadima Kabangu could not bury an easy chance when keeper Moussa Camara spilled a shot right into his path unmarked inside the box. Kabangu also had a chance with 12 minutes left but his header from close range was over.
