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Caf CL: Al Ahly and Zamalek both lose in action-packed match-day 3

By FootyGhana
Khuliso Mudau of Mamelodi Sundowns on the attack during the Caf Champions League 2021/22 football match between Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns held at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on 26 February 2022 ©Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix

Cairo giants Zamalek and Al Ahly both suffered potentially crippling defeats on Saturday 26 February in the headline results of match-day 3 in the 2021/22 Caf Champions League’s group stage.

Titleholders Ahly, who have played a game less in Group A, are still awaiting their first win after suffering a surprise 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns.

The South Africans, who had never even scored a goal in six previous away games against the Red Devils, found themselves under the cosh for most of the clash but claimed a historic victory thanks to a late strike from substitute Thapelo Morena in a late kick-off in Cairo on Saturday night.

The early game on Saturday afternoon saw Tunisian rivals Esperance de Tunis and Etoile du Sahel play to a goalless stalemate, allowing Group C rivals CR Belouizdad of Algeria to take full advantage with a 2-1 away win in Botswana over Jwaneng Galaxy.

CRB joined Esperance on five points at the top of the standings (with Sahel two points back) thanks to a brace from Kheiredine Merzougi – including a winner deep in injury time at the end of the game.

Galaxy remain winless and will need something special in the return game in North Africa next month to keep their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals alive.

Saturday’s early evening action also featured a key 1-0 away win for Petro de Luanda against fellow Angolan club Sagrada Esperanca.

A first-half penalty from Tiago Azulao separated the teams, allowing Petro to take a firm hold on top spot in Group D with seven points from a possible nine thus far.

Their nearest chasers are Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca, who moved to within a point of the summit thanks to a 3-1 home triumph over Zamalek at the same time that Ahly were losing at home to ‘Downs.

WAC secured the come-from-behind victory thanks to strikes from Zouheir El Moutaraji, Amine Farhane and Yahya Jabrane, leaving the White Knights with just two points from three matches and looking in danger of an early exit.

Friday’s games saw Al Merrikh claim a much-needed 2-1 win over Sudanese compatriot team Al Hilal in Group A – thanks to a brace from Elsamani Saadeldin – while AmaZulu and Raja Casablanca claimed 1-0 home wins in Group B over ES Setif and Horoya AC respectively.

Luvoyo Memela scored for Usuthu, while the Green Eagles’ winner was netted by Mohsine Moutouali, as the two teams clad in green and white took firm control of the top two spots in the standings.

The next round of Caf Champion League group stage matches will feature the reverse fixtures from this weekend, scheduled for 11-12 March.

Match-day 3 Results summary:

Friday 25 February

Al Merrikh 2-1 Al Hilal

AmaZulu 1-0 ES Setif

Raja Casablanca 1-0 Horoya AC

Saturday 26 February

Esperance de Tunis 0-0 Etoile du Sahel

Jwaneng Galaxy 1-2 CR Belouizdad

Sagrada Esperanca 0-1 Petro de Luanda

Al Ahly 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns

Wydad Casablanca 3-1 Zamalek

 

 

©Backpage TXT

 

FootyGhana

Ghana's most authoritative soccer website.

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