CAFCL: Ahly edge out Raja to keep record extending chase alive
Egyptian giants Al Ahly kept their chase for a record extending 11th title alive with a 2-0 victory over Raja Club Athletic in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-final on Saturday night.
Mohamed Abdelmonem and Hamdi Fathi were on target in either half in Cairo to give their side an early advantage heading into next weekend’s return fixture in Casablanca.
Abdelmonem broke the deadlock at the stroke of halftime, towering above his marker to thump home a header from an Ali Maaloul cross from the left.
The home side was rewarded for their industry in the opening half, having commanded 60pc of the possession.
But, Raja had two close chances to score, which would have changed the face of the game. Mohamed Nahiri had a stinging free-kick from distance brilliantly saved by Mohamed Elshenawy early on.
The Ahly keeper was called into action again when Walid Sabbar released Mohamed Zrida through on goal, but the custodian made another brilliant save to keep his side in the game.
On the other end, Ahly had a goal disallowed when Kahraba deflected a cross into the net, but it was ruled out for offside.
In the second half Ahly looked to consolidate their lead and they did so six minutes from time when Fathi was picked out by a brilliant lofted ball from Percy Tau and he made no mistake with a brilliant volley.
Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate beating CR Belouizdad 4-1 during the CAF Champions League 2022-23 Quarterfinal 1st leg match between CR Belouizdad and Mamelodi Sundowns held at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers
Mamelodi Sundowns laid down a marker on their ambition for a second continental title after earning a massive 4-1 away victory over Algeria’s CR Belouizdad on Saturday night in the first-leg of their quarter-final clash.
Peter Shalulile put up a brilliant performance with two goals and an assist for Neo Maema while Cassius Mailula added a late fourth as Masandawana left North Africa with a resounding victory.
The win in Algiers eases pressure on their shoulders ahead of the return fixture in Pretoria next weekend.
The South Africans stamped their authority right from the start and they broke the deadlock after just six minutes when Shalulile powered home a header from the edge of the six yard box off an Aubrey Modiba cross.
The Namibian hotshot turned from scorer to provider in the 20th minute as Sundowns doubled their lead, cutting back a cross into the area that Maema thumped home with a powerful side-footed shot.
At the stroke of half-time, Miloud Rebiai restored some hope for the home side when he headed into the net from a corner, halving the deficit and giving themselves a fighting chance in the second-half.
However, things didn’t go to plan as it was Sundowns who would extend their lead, Shalulile doubling his tally for the night with a goal six minutes from the restart.
The goal seemingly killed off Belouizdad’s hopes of a comeback as Sundowns dominated much of the play.
On form Mailula would seal the victory with the fourth goal in the second minute of added time, a strike that put Downs one foot into the last four.
Simba SC picked a 1-0 win at home on Saturday, earning a slim advantage over defending champions Wydad Athletic Club in the first leg of the quarter final in Dar es Salaam.
John Beleke’s first half goal gave the Tanzanian giants the much-needed home ground victory and will have all to work for in the return fixture in Casablanca next weekend.
Simba ensured they consolidated a win at home after a good performance, and would have made the score even wider had they finished the chances they had.
Beleke scored the winning goal on the half hour mark when he did well to turn home a Dennis Kibu ball into the net.
The goal gave Simba improved confidence and they played with more command, powered by the partisan home crowd.
After the break, Wydad and their head coach Juan Carlos Garrido made changes as they tried to rally back, but they couldn’t get their act together in the final third.
Simba could have added a second at the tail end of the game when Clatous Chama had a glorious opportunity, but the Zambian international could not hit the target.
