Al Ahly Edge Closer To Caf CL Final

By Daily sports on June 20, 2021

Pitso Mosimane led Al Ahly to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis in the 2020/21 Caf Champions League semi-final first-leg match on Saturday evening.

Mohamed Sherif’s second-half goal earned the Egyptian champions the win in an encounter that took place at Stade Olympique de Rades in the Tunisian city of Rades.

Mosimane was hoping to mastermind his first win over Esperance having lost once and drawn once against the Tunisian champions during his time with Mamelodi Sundowns.

The South African coach rewarded Salah Mohsen with a starting berth after the attacker came off the bench to score in Al Ahly’s 2-0 win over Moroccan outfit RS Berkane in the 2021 Caf Super Cup match on May 28.

Al Ahly were facing an Esperance side that had lost four of their last five competitive matches including their most recent game which was a 1-0 defeat to Etoile du Sahel in the Tunisian Cup game on May 26.

The first real chance of the game was created by Ali Maaloul, who had been handed his maiden start for the Red Devils since February this year by Mosimane. 

The Tunisia international played a quick free-kick to the unmarked Sherif, whose angled effort was blocked by well-positioned goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia.

Sherif thought he had handed Al Ahly the lead when he fired home after Ben Cherifia had pushed the ball into his path, but the goal was disallowed for offside. 

However, the Blood and Gold finished the first-half the stronger of the two teams and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane cut inside before unleashing a shot which was brilliantly saved by keeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

Al Ahly, who are the current holders of the Caf Champions League, were then able to contain Esperance until South African match referee Victor Gomes blew the half-time whistle and the score was 0-0 at the interval.

The two teams continued to create chances after the restart as Khalid Abdul-Basit forced El Shenawy into an easy save and Taher Mohamed Taher hit the side-netting at the other end with the Esperance defence exposed.

Mosimane was forced to make a change when Mohsen went down injured and he was replaced by Mohamed Magdi Kafsha, who helped the Red Devils take full control of the match.

The visitors deservedly took the lead when Sherif scored from a rebound to make it 1-0 to Al Ahly in the 67th minute after his initial shot had hit the upright following a defence-splitting pass from Aliou Dieng.

Esperance surged forward as they searched for the equalising goal and Mosimane decided to refresh his defence as he pulled out Maaloul and he introduced Rami Rabia, who is a central defender by trade. 

The Red Devils’ defence looked impenetrable in the closing proceedings and a long-range shot from Ben Romdhane was easily saved by El Shenawy and ultimately, the match ended in a 1-0 win in favour of Al Ahly. 

The two teams will now meet in the second-leg encounter which is scheduled to be played at Al Ahly's home ground, Al Salam Stadium next week Saturday. 

The winner on aggregate between Al Ahly and Esperance will take on either South African giants Kaizer Chiefs or Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in the final next month. (Goal)

•PHOTO: Al Ahly players

Source Daily sports

Posted June 20, 2021


 

You may also like...
Serena Williams concerned over equality fight

Mikel’s 2018 World Cup jersey added to Fifa...

Hearn reveals Joshua return now in April

Morocco beatable in CHAN final, insists Eagles gaffer...

Sanchez resumes training with Arsenal

Australian Open: Cilic, Edmund in semis as Nadal...

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,141 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,350 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,991 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,931 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,288 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,332 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,035 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,489 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,916 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media