CAIRO – Ramadan Sobhi scored a stoppage time penalty as former finallists Pyramids FC of Egypt secured a home draw against South African debutants Marumo Gallants as the two sides played out to a 1-1 draw in the first-leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final in Cairo.
Gallants had looked to be headed for a memorable 1-0 victory away in North Africa, but a handball by Sibusiso Khumalo as he tried to block a cross from Mohamed Sharaf saw the home side win a late penalty.
Sobhi stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way to secure the draw that gives the Egyptians a chance heading to next weekend’s return tie down south.
Dangerman Ranga Chivaviro had scored the lone goal for Gallants 10 minutes after the restart, a lead they jealously guarded till the dying minutes of the game when they were undone by a penalty.
The 30-year-old scored his fifth goal of the knockout phase of the competition, bouncing a header into the net in the 55th minute after peeling from his marker to head home a Lucky Mohomi corner.
It was a brilliant start to the second half after the opening 45 had bore little of clear-cut scoring chances.
Three minutes after scoring, Chivaviro almost doubled their tally when he wriggled his way at the edge of the box to find a yard of shooting space but his low drive rolled inches wide.
On the other end, Pyramids wasted a good chance when Sobhi dribbled his way into the box, but he chose to cut back with a chance to shoot, allowing Gallants to clear.
In the 61st minute, they came inches closer when Mohamed el-Gabbass controlled a cross from the right and went for an overhead kick, but his effort hit the base of the bar.
Pyramids keeper Ahmed el-Shenawi then put his side in the game in the 88th minute with a brilliant one handed save, plucking away a well taken volley by Letsie Koapeng.
The saved proved vital as just two minutes on the turn, the home side won a penalty to score and secure a draw.
Yanga stuns Rivers
Tanzanian Premier League champions Yanga SC has put one foot into the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup after edging out Nigeria’s Rivers United 2-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.
A second-half brace from Fiston Mayele earned Yanga the massive victory and will now have all the advantage heading into next weekend’s home tie in Dar es Salaam, where they will be staring at a first ever continental semi-final appearance.
“I am delighted to win because it is not easy to come to Nigeria and win. We played well and took our chances, but the game is far from over. We still have the second leg and we need to do even better to ensure we qualify,” Nasreddine Nabi, the Yanga head coach said.
Mayele broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when he was picked out by a brilliant through ball from skipper Bakari Mwamnyeto.
The Congolese import ran to the pass before hitting it past the keeper first time.
The same pair was to work together for the second goal scored nine minutes from time, this time Mwamnyeto passing back a recycled ball from a set-piece to Mayele who made no mistake with the second goal.
The Tanzanian giants were rewarded for being the most adventurous forward and they had chances to score even from the first half.
The best of the opening 45 saw Mayele square through a ball to Stephane Aziz Ki, but the latter’s shot from close range was blocked by the keeper.
Rivers had some chances too and their best fell on skipper Nwagua Nakeberi who was put through on goal by Gideon Duru, but he could not guide the ball into the net with the keeper beaten at the backpost.
The Nigerians have their work cut out heading to Dar and they need to win at least 2-0 to stretch the game to penalties, or win by a margin of more than three goals.
