30 August - 5 September 2001
Issue No.549
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 30 August - 5 September 2001 Issue No.549 |
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Effective all the same
Ahli established a three-point lead in Group B of the African Champions League with a 1-0 home victory over Algeria's Chabab Belouizdad. Abeer Anwar reports
It was a workmanlike rather than spectacular success at Cairo Stadium with a well-executed goal by Hossam Ghali after 31 minutes settling a tight North African showdown in Group B.
Against Belouizdad, Ahli got by 1-0
photo: Amr Gamal
A short free-kick and a swerving cross exposed the Algerian defence and Ghali outjumped Nassim Bounekdja before heading wide of goalkeeper Slimane Mata into the corner of the net.
The match was a cameo of African football with slick passing and excellent movement off the ball spoilt by wild shooting that left Mata and opposite number Essam El-Hadari with little to do.
Libyan referee Abdel-Hakim Al-Shelmani kept a tight grip on the second-round match to banish fears of another volatile clash between Egyptian and Algerian teams. The first of two cautions came with 15 minutes left.
An Egyptian-Algerian deciding World Cup qualifier in July was stopped for 15 minutes when Algerian supporters threw water bottles and other objects onto the pitch in Annaba.
In the same group, Angolan club Petro Atletico caused the first shock of the group phase with a 2-1 triumph against ASEC of Ivory Coast in Abidjan on Sunday.
Democratic Republic of Congo midfielder Kapela Mbiyavanga scored late in each half for Petro while Antonin Koutouan was on target for ASEC, which was the dominant team throughout.
But while Mbiyavanga gave lessons in clinical finishing at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, the Ivorians squandered chance after chance and, when they did break through, found goalkeeper Luis Joao in superb form.
The pressure did take its toll on the Brazilian-coached Angolans with five of the team cautioned before Koutouan levelled by heading home the 12th corner awarded to 1998 champions ASEC midway through the second half.
Both Petro goals came from swift counterattacks in a thrilling match watched by a capacity 45,000 crowd, with many dressed in the yellow colour worn by their heroes.
Mbiyavanga was on hand to slot in the first goal after 41 minutes after goalkeeper Losseni Konate was beaten to a cross and the winner with eight minutes left followed a cross by Avelino Lopes.
Ahli leads the pool with a maximum six points following two of the six mini-league rounds. Petro has three points and ASEC and Chabab Belouizdad one each.
Nigeria's Julius Berger beat Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in an African Champions League Group A match on Saturday to revive hopes of becoming the first Nigerian team to win the continent's top clubs competition.
Two goals from Uche Okereke, one in each half, ensured Berger picked up its first points at the expense of the team from Pretoria.
Both teams began the game brightly with the home side more attack-minded.
Okereke, the top scorer in the Nigerian league last season, got on the score sheet as early as the ninth minute, doing well to control a centre on top of Sundowns box before shooting beyond the goalkeeper for the opening goal.
The goal forced the South Africans out of their defensive shell with Zambian international Gift Kampapa and the big Cameroonian Alain Amougou coming close to drawing level.
Amougou came close to finding the back of the net in the 41st minute but his effort from point-blank range was parried by goalkeeper Ejiogu back into his path.
A second attempt was scrambled away by the Berger 'keeper for a corner kick.
Shortly afterwards, Ejiogu was forced to go off, through injury, and was replaced by substitute goalkeeper Uche Akubuike.
In the 80th minute, Akubuike denied the experienced international Daniel Madau when he appeared set to score, tipping over a close range header. He then saved a late penalty and in the dying seconds of the encounter dived at the feet of the goal-bound South African striker.
Esperance of Tunisia held off a late rally by TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo for a 2-1 victory also in Group A.
Ali Zitouni converted a 15th-minute penalty and Mourad Melki scored with a sizzling volley after 66 minutes at Al-Menzah Stadium in Tunis.
But after dominating most of a lively, fast-paced game on a humid North African evening, the home team came under unexpected pressure in the final stages after Mazembe reduced arrears with 14 minutes left.
An Esperance clearance fell to second-half substitute Makudi Ilunga, and his looping shot from 30 metres caught Tunisian goalkeeper Mohamed Zouabi off his line and the ball dipped into the net.
Zouabi was continuously booed by Congolese supporters in the closing stages as he wasted time, especially with goal kicks, while several teammates needed treatment for cramps.
It will concern new Esperance coach Ali Fergani from Algeria that his team was hanging on after it squandered numerous first-half chances with young striker Zitouni the chief culprit.
Success took Esperance to the top of the pool with four points after two rounds. Julius Berger lie second with three points, ahead of TP Mazembe on goal difference. Sundowns has one.
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