CAF Champions League: WAC meets Petro de Luanda, Ahly face Setif as competition reaches semifinals
Petro de Luanda held tournament favourites Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg on Saturday evening as the Angolan outfit booked a place in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate score.
In a dramatic tie at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, Tiago Azulao’s VAR awarded penalty secured a draw for Petro after Brian Mandela had put Sundowns ahead in the 49th minute.
Themba Zwane missed a penalty for Sundowns before Kenyan Brian Onyango gave them an early second-half lead that lasted 15 minutes before Brazilian Azulao levelled from another spot-kick.
It was a shock outcome as Sundowns, after winning home and away against title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt during the group stage, were favoured to win the southern African showdown.
Apart from the group achievements of Sundowns, doubts had been raised about the defensive strength of Petro after a 5-1 hammering by Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in their last away outing.
Wydad Athletic Club held off pressure from CR Belouizdad to play to a barren draw at the Mohamed V Complex in Casablanca on Saturday and book a slot in the semi-finals with a 1-0 aggregate score.
The Moroccan giants had won 1-0 in the first leg in Algiers last weekend and that result proved to be the decider. They have now earned a date with Petro de Luanda in the semis, a side they thrashed 5-1 when they met in the last match of the group phase.
This is the third consecutive time Wydad are in the semis and the sixth time in seven appearances since 2016.
A last minute VAR check caused moments of tension for Wydad when the referee had to go to the pitch-side monitor to check whether keeper Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti had fouled Ahmed Ait Abdesslem as they battled for a cross.
However, the whole stadium, packed to the rafters, breathed a collective sigh of relief as the referee whistled play on after the on-pitch review.
This was just after Belouizdad had been reduced to 10 men at the stroke of 90 minutes after another VAR review saw goalkeeper Toufik Moussaoui red carded for a retaliatory push on the face on Wydad’s Muaid Ellafi.
Ahly forced a 1-1 draw away to Raja Casablanca for a 3-2 overall victory while Setif upset Esperance of Tunisia 1-0 in Rades to win by the same score on aggregate.
Mohamed Abdelmonem scored the vital goal for the Red Devils to level the return tie at the Mohamed V Stadium, a goal that proved most vital for the record African champions.
Defender Abdelmonem wiped the blushes off teammate Ali Maaloul who had missed an earlier penalty as Ahly remain on course for a third consecutive African title. They will take on Algeria’s ES Setif in the semi-finals, the latter having eliminated Esperance with a 1-0 aggregate score.
ES Setif stunned home side Esperance du Tunis at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rades on Friday night, beating the four-time winners 1-0 to progress to the semi-finals.
Abdelmoumene Djabou scored the lone goal in the 21st minute, handing the Algerians a win on the road to go through 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg in Algiers ended barren last week.
Heading in to the return fixture in Rades, Setif needed in the least a scoring draw to take them through, but they stepped up one better to pick a win on enemy soil and progress to the last four for the first time since 2018.
Djabou broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a neat finish. The forward waded past the keeper to tap into an empty net after being fed by brilliant Riyad Benayad through ball after he pickpocketed Abdelkader Bedrane at the edge of the box.
In the second half, it was all Esperance as the Tunisian side piled in the pressure. But, Setif keeper Sofiana Khedairia stood tall in between the sticks to ensure the scores remain 1-0 in his side’s favour.
He made a brilliant save to deny Ben Hammouda’s header before Nigerian import Anayo Iwuala headed another chance inches wide. The keeper made another full flight save to deny Elhouni.
Esperance poured in absolutely everything in attack, but Setif defended with their lives to keep their hopes of a third Champions League title firmly within their reach.
Petro de Luanda of Angola will clash with Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco in the semifinals as title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt meet Entente Setif of Algiera in the other semi-final, with the first legs scheduled for May 6-7 and the return matches for May 13-14.
The single-match final of the premier African club competition, which carries a $2.5 million (2.1 mn euros) first prize, is set for May 29 at a venue yet to be announced.
