Fate coming soon
As the group phase of the Arab Champions League winds down, the tournament enters a decisive phase. Mohamed El-Sayed sees what's left
The most prestigious Arab club football championship has entered a critical juncture. By next week the eight remaining teams - four Africans and four Asians - in the Arab Champions League would have been known.
In Group A, Zamalek of Egypt continued their unbeaten streak, defeating Ittihad Beleida of Algeria 2-0 before 30,000 fervent Algerians.
Having practically qualified to the next phase even before the game began, Zamalek wanted to prove that their 1-1 draw with the Algerian side in Cairo in December was a fluke.
Abdel-Halim Ali, who tops the goal scorers list with seven, scored the opener via a first-time shot from the edge of the area five minutes after the kick-off. Midfielder Ahmed Saleh stretched the lead eight minutes before time.
This match witnessed the comeback of Zamalek's veteran player Hossam Hassan who was brought in eight minutes before the end. Hassan had been banned from playing for six months since a shouting match with his Portuguese coach Vingada in the first game of the season when Vingada substituted him.
Ittihad Beleida supporters shouted insults at their players after the match and cheered for the Egyptians, especially Hassan who received the lion's share of praise. "The supporters should not forget that Zamalek are a big team and considered one of the best in Africa," said the Romanian head coach of the Algerians.
Challenging for their second Arab title, Zamalek now top their group with 13 points, six points clear of nearest competitor Sfax of Tunisia.
In the other match of the group, Esperance were dealt a sudden 3-1 home defeat at the hands of countrymen Sfax. The win catapulted Sfax to second place with seven points, one ahead of the "Blood and Gold" Esperance.
In the sixth round and final round of the group phase, all games will be held on the same day, Wednesday 17 March, at the same time. Zamalek will play Sfax in Cairo and Esperance will meet Ittihad Beleida in Algeria.
In Group B, matters are not settled yet. All four teams have a chance to qualify for the next phase especially after the two matches of the group ended in goalless draws.
In Algeria, Ismaili of Egypt extended their lead in the group after snatching a 0-0 draw with Nasr Hussein-Dey of Algeria. Ismaili are now with eight points, two ahead of Etoile de Sahel of Tunisia and Ahli of Egypt. The Dervishes need only one point from their last match with Etoile in Ismailia next Tuesday to qualify for the second round.
Bone chilling weather kept thousands of Algerians away. The Egyptians were forced to wear gloves and Ismaili's Malian import Dramane Traore wore a training suit under his jersey.
Most passes went awry and there was little control of the ball. Both teams created just one scoring opportunity between them.
Having done without the services of eight of their veteran players during the transfer period, Ismaili are now depending on under-20 youngsters to carry the day.
Following the match, Theo Bucker, Ismaili's German head coach, described his players as "clever fighters for they successfully executed my instructions to come out with a satisfying result". He added that "before the game most observers expected Ismaili to lose after the departure of key players like Emad El-Nahhas and Islam El-Shater. However, this game proved that we can play well without veteran players as long as the players have the sense of commitment and fighting spirit."
In Cairo, Ahli failed to secure a berth in the next phase, drawing 0-0 with Etoile de Sahel before 70,000 zealous Egyptian supporters.
The Red Devils blamed the loss of the two precious points on Libyan referee Abdel-Hakim Al-Shilmani who refrained from handing the home side a penalty kick in the second half when a Tunisian defender brought Osama Hosni down. Al-Shilmani also cancelled a goal scored by Ahmed Bilal for offside.
"I do not know whether this unfairness was predetermined or a mistake," assistant coach Hossam El-Badri said following the match. "I asked Al-Shilmani after the game to see those two plays on video to make sure that he was fair with us."
Ahli's destiny in the championship will be determined, to some extent, according to the result of the Ismaili-Etoile encounter in Ismailia, the same day that the Red Devils and Nasr Hussein-Dey meet in Algeria. If Ismaili win, the red jerseys will then need only one point from their encounter but if the Dervishes draw, then the Reds would have to beat Hussein-Dey to qualify.
In the Arab-Asian division four teams have qualified for the next stage; from Group A, Hilal and Ahli Jeddah of Saudi Arabia and from Group B Ittihad Jeddah of Saudi Arabia and Talaba of Iraq.
The Arab Football Federation is due to meet in Cairo on 20 March for the draw of the next phase and to determine what format the competition will take as well as the venue for the final.
