16 - 22 August 2001
Issue No.547
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 16 - 22 August 2001 Issue No.547 |
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Building up on success
Ahli kicked off their official season with an impressive away victory just a few days after their shocking conquest of Real Madrid, Alaa Shahine reports
Before their last match against Angolan Petro Atletico away from home in last Sunday, Egypt's champions, Ahli, had only won seven encounters in their 43 African Champions League's road encounters. Under new Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, the fabled Egyptian side, however, walked into the Citadella Stadium in the Angolan capital of Luanda with no interest in football's history books. They subsequently outclassed their hosts with an impressive 3-1 victory.
It was Jose's official debut as team coach a few days after he led his new-look side to a stunning friendly victory over Spanish giants Real Madrid in Cairo. Ahli wrapped the precious victory up before the break with two goals by Alaa Ibrahim and Nigerian Sunday Ibeji. In the second half, the hosts pulled a goal back through a penalty kick by Flavio da Silva only to see Ahmed Abu Mosallam sealing Ahli's victory few minutes before the final whistle.
The result left Ahli topping Group B on three points, two points ahead of Chebab Bilouizdad of Algeria and ASEC of Ivory Coast who both fought out an entertaining 1-1 tie in the other match that took place on the same day in Algiers. Eight teams made it to the tournament's quarterfinal stage and were divided into two groups. The winners and the runner-ups of each group will qualify to the semifinal stage to decide on the two finalists of the lucrative event. Winners of the championship will receive a $1 m cheque, while the second-place team will receive a $750,000 prize. Ahli captured Africa's premiere championship twice in 1982 and 1987, while they won he African Cup Winners Cup trophy four times.
Manuel Jose's side took an early lead in the sixth minute when striker Alaa Ibrahim took advantage of a mix-up between Petro's defenders and goalkeeper to guide the ball home with ease, putting the guests ahead against all the odds. The goal set off a ferocious attack from the hosts who were denied by some brilliant goalkeeping from Essam El-Hadari. He first saved a blistering shot from Zico and then followed it up by tipping Jonas's close-range header over the top of the bar.
Ahli were two goals up in the 34th minute when Hossam Ghali made a probing run in the right side and sent a pinpoint cross to Ibeji who fired a header into the back of the net, leaving Angolan goalie, Nando, stranded. Flavio and Avelino Lopes clawed back territorial advantage for the hosts after the break but failed to impose any real threat on El-Hadari.
Petro reduced the arrears in the 71st minute with a soft penalty decision by referee Petros Matabila of South Africa to their favour. Flavio converted the spot kick to bring his side back to the game. The same player came again few minutes later and smashed a spectacular free kick tipped away by El-Hadari. Ahli substitute Ahmed Abu Mosallam made sure of the three points with an individual effort six minutes from time, cutting through the defense and then shooting as Petro goalkeeper Nando hesitated.
Ahli will play their second match on August the 24th against Algeria's Chebab Belouizdad in Cairo.
Several hours later on the same day, the 1998 champions ASEC of Ivory Coast held Algeria's Chebab Belouizdad to a 1-1 tie in a high-tempo game throughout at the 5th of July Stadium in Algiers. The hosts had things moving ahead in the sixth minute through Fadel Settara. The Algerian striker struck home a loose ball after ASEC's international keeper Lossene Konate blocked his initial effort.
The young Ivoarian side then had to fight back against an approximate 30,000 zealous Alegerian crowd who saw their team squandering several scoring opportunities. Few minutes before the break, Ali Mousa had the goal wide open after beating Bonate only to chose sending the ball wide.
The Algerians were made to pay for blowing away chances just three minutes into the second half. Koffi Noutsoudje brought things back to square one, stabbing a cross past Slimane Ould Mata as the defence stood stationary.
Group A kicked off one day earlier with mighty Tunisian side Esperance playing to a scoreless draw in their road match against South Africa's Sundowns in Johannesburg. The game did not come close to its pre-match billing after the ferocious battle between the two clubs in last year's Champions League, when Esperance edged the South Africans on goal difference to top the group and qualify for the final.
There were few chances for either side in the game played before a sparse crowd of around 2,000 at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld stadium. The Tunisian visitors, who have lost in the final of the last two Champions League competitions, came closest to scoring when Mourad Melki dispossessed Sundowns defender Dan Semake in the 63rd minute before rattling a long-range shot off the crossbar.
TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo are on top of the group's standings with three points, following their 1-0 home victory over Nigeria's Julios Berger.
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