Holders Entente Setif squeezed into the African Champions League group stage, after their goalkeeper Sofiane Khedairia saved two Raja Casablanca spot-kicks in the decisive shoot-out.
The Algerians defeated the Moroccans 4-1 on penalties after the second leg in Setif finished 2-2, leaving the North African clubs tied at 4-4 on aggregate.
The last-16 second leg proved dramatic, with a spectacular goal, delays when flares were thrown onto the pitch, and a stoppage-time Raja equaliser.
Goals early in each half from El Hedi Belameiri and captain Mourad Delhoum earned Setif a two-goal advantage.
Abdelilah Hafidi halved the deficit and Adil Karrouchy equalised off a rebound on 95 minutes after his penalty had been parried, taking the tie to penalties.
Recalled goalkeeper Sofiane Khedairia, who was axed from a round-of-32 tie after refusing to travel to the Gambia, then became Setif's hero.
While Setif clinically converted four spot-kicks in a row, the France-born goalkeeper saved the first two Raja attempts to earn his club a memorable triumph.
Two-time African champions Setif will discover their three group opponents on Tuesday when the draw is made in Cairo.
Raja are demoted to the African Confederation Cup and the eight play-off pairings will be made the same day.
Algeria are hoping to have a record three clubs in the group stage of the elite African club competition this season.
USM Alger and Mouloudia El Eulma face challenging routes to the last-eight stage.
USM hold a 2-1 advantage over Guineans AS Kaloum , who must host their second leg in neighbouring Mali because of the Ebola epidemic.
Eulma are slightly better off as they did not concede a goal at home when winning 1-0 against vastly more experienced Tunisian outfit CS Sfaxien.
Setif, USM and Eulma are hoping to create history as three clubs from the same country have never made it to the Champions League group stage.
Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Tunisia did best with two clubs, and all three nations have two challengers for group places this weekend.
TP Mazembe, the most successful DR Congo club in Africa with four Champions League titles, host Stade Malien following a 2-2 draw in Mali.
But compatriots Sanga Balende, making a rare appearance, are in trouble having lost 1-0 at home to Sudanese Al Hilal.
Egyptian contenders Al Ahly and Smouha face identical tasks having lost 1-0 away to Moroccans Moghreb Tetouan and Congolese AC Leopardsrespectively.
Record eight-time African champions Ahly and newcomers Smouha must also share the handicap of playing in empty stadiums owing to post-Arab Spring security concerns.
Esperance are the other Tunisian challengers and trail El Merrikh 1-0 from the first leg in Sudan.
0 comments:
Post a Comment