Veteran Mouhssine Lajour struck twice in between Al Masry’s goals as Moroccan outfit RS Berkane grabbed a 2-2 Confederation Cup draw away to Egyptian side Al Masry at the Suez Stadium on Sunday.
Iajour had scored the opener a minute before half time, but Muftah Hamad bagged the equaliser 47 seconds after the restart. Berkane keeper Zouhair Laaroubi guided the ball into his own net on the hour mark to hand Masry the second goal.
However, the home side could not defend well against last season’s losing finalists, conceding an equaliser nine minutes to time.
In a game with few chances, the Moroccans broke the deadlock when Mouhssine stretched in with a run at the near post to guide a low cross from Mohammed Farehane into the net.
Farehane had brought in some energy into the side after coming in for skipper Mohamed Aziz who had come off with an injury. Before the goal, Hamdi Laachir had come close for Berkane with a header that went inches wide.
Just after scoring the opener, Berkane came close to a second when Mouhssine’s shot on the left foot off a Zakaria Hadraf tee up went wide.
But after the break, the home side came back a different side and it seemed coach Tarek El Ashry’s words at half time had brought some change in them.
Just 47 seconds into the half they were level when Hamad tapped the ball home with the inside of his foot after burly striker Mahmoud Wadi had done well to control the ball inside the box under pressure and lay it off for his teammate to score.
On the hour mark, Masry were 2-1 ahead when Laaroubi guided the ball into his own net. Issoufou Dayo had gone up well to nod down a cross for Ismael Mokadem. The midfielder, however, did not have a clean tap at the ball but luckily for him, defender Amr Mousa struck the ball against his keeper’s feet to guide the ball into the net.
But Berkane kept their fight and were rewarded in the 81st minute when Mouhssine scored his second with an l header at the near post from a corner.
There will be all to play for in the return tie in Berkane next weekend, but the Moroccans will go in with confidence after bagging two away goals.
In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo
You must be logged in to post a comment Login