Alger, Mazembe score crucial wins
 |
| CAF |
Four-time champions TP Mazembe played themselves back into contention in the CAF Champions League with a 2-0 victory in Egypt against Smouha in a Group A match. USM Alger, meanwhile, remain the only club with maximum points after beating El Eulma 2-1. The top two teams from the two groups will advance to the semi-finals, while the winner of the competition will represent the continent at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan at the end of the year.
Match of the week
ES Setif 1-1 Al Merreikh
If holders ES Setif fail to advance to the semi-finals, the reason will not be difficult to find: the Algerians' home record. After losing their opening match in Setif against local rival USM, Les Aigles Noirs only managed this draw against Sudanese side Al Merreikh in May 8 1945 Stadium. The hosts took the lead early on when Abdelmalik Ziaya found the back of the net. However, somewhat against the run of play just a few minutes later, the Sudanese club levelled matters through Nigerian striker Solomon Jabason, who headed home after a corner. The draw takes Setif's run without a victory at home in the group phase to six matches. Merreikh coach Diego Garzitto, who won the competition with Mazembe in 2009, said that they achieved their goal: “This point will allow us to be comfortable before the home match against Setif."
Other matches
In the other Group B match, USM Alger remained on track for their second appearance in the semi-finals by maintaining their 100 per cent record with a 2-1 victory over compatriots El Eulma. The second division side found themselves down by two goals midway through the first half after Kaddour Beldjilali and Mohamed Seguer found the back of the net. Eulma, who have looked impressive in their group matches but have zero points at the midway mark, pulled one back shortly before the break through Nathir Korichi. Both teams had chances in the second half, but good goalkeeping at both sides of the pitch kept the score at 2-1. The result sees USM atop the group with nine points – a commanding five more than Setif and Merreikh.
In Group A things are much tighter as Mazembe played themselves back into contention with their first victory in the group phase. The club from the Congo DR inflicted a first home defeat in the competition on Smouha thanks to goals from Zambian striker Rainford Kalaba and Ghanaian Daniel Nii Adjei. Smouha, who were coached for the first time by Mohamed Youssed, who took Al Ahly to the title in 2013, ended the match with ten players after Ayman El Sayed was sent off for a second bookable offence. The win takes Mazembe on to five points, while Smouha have three. Sudanese club Al Hilal, who played to a 1-1 draw in Morocco against Moghreb Tetouan, are also on five points and like Mazembe they also have two home matches remaining in the last three rounds. Tetouan have two points and two road matches left to make up ground.
Player of the week
Much-travelled midfielder Andrezinho signed for Sudanese champions Al Hilal in May, having previously played in his native Brazil, as well as China PR, Hungary, Malaysia and Lithuania. Hilal took on Moroccan club Moghreb Tetouan in their third group game, and Abdeladim Khadrouf thought he had given the home side the win with the opening goal with 20 minutes to go. But it was not to be, as Andrezinho made the most of the confidence shown in him by his coach with an equalising goal in the 77th minute.
The stat
0 – The number of goals that TP Mazembe have conceded in their three games in the group stage. Six other clubs have achieved that feat before, with only Club Africain failing to advance to the semi-finals in 1997.
What they said
“Our hard work paid off. We absolutely had to win the game, and we did so against a good team. After drawing the two first matches, it was important to win back our fans. We have to go through to the semi-final before thinking about the next step,” TP Mazembe striker Rainford Kalaba.
Have your say
Can Algeria or Sudan become the first countries to provide two finalists in the competition? DR Congo (2014), Nigeria (2009), Egypt (2005) and Tunisia (2004) have managed to get two clubs into the semi-finals.