- Hilal conceded a last minute goal to draw 1-1 with Etoile
- They remain bottom of the group with four points
- TP Mazembe secured top spot in another match
Al Hilal suffered a late setback in their CAF Champions League, conceding a 92nd minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The Sudanese champions had led 1-0 after a first half stoppage time goal, but lost concentration at a crucial time, to see their hopes of a place in the quarter finals now hang on a thread.
Salah Barhoumi scored the equalizer in the second minute of added time, sweeping in a shot unmarked from inside the box after a long ball was hauled down and fed to him by Assil Jaziri. It was the product of some persistent play from the Tunisian side, who had been dumping balls inside the Hilal box in search for an equalizer.
Pape Ndiaye had broken the deadlock for Hilal in the third minute of first half added time with a thumping header from inside the box off a well weighted cross from Steven Ebuela on the right.
The draw sees Hilal remain bottom of Group C with four points same as Etoile, who are on a better goal difference.
Petro de Luanda remained top of the Group with eight points following their 0-0 draw with second placed Esperance who are on five points.
Al Hilal draw but Mazembe secure Group A top spot
Cheick Fofana celebrates his goal for TP Mazembe
Elsewhere, TP Mazembe stormed top of Group A in the CAF Champions League with a brilliant 2-0 victory at home against Mauritanian outfit FC Nouadhibou in Lubumbashi.
A late Check Fofana double gave The Ravens maximum points on their home turf to keep their hopes of a quarter final berth alive.
The opening half was closely contested, with chances at goal few and far in between. The pace picked up at the start of the second half, Mazembe especially pushed by the home fans.
But, they had to wait till the 80th minute to get the opening goal, Mauritanian right back Ibrahima Keita providing the ball that broke the deadlock against his home country. Keita struck a brilliant cross from the right, Fofana extendinga foot at the near post to direct the ball home.
The Malian forward completed the job for Mazembe in the fourth minute of added time when he tapped in from inside the box after a beautiful lay off from his fellow countryman Fily Traore.
With seven points from four matches, Mazembe are just one win away from confirming their place in the last eight.
Rulani delighted as Sundowns put Champions League campaign on track
Coach Rulani Mokwena congratulates Teboho Mokoena for his goal.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena expressed his delight after the South African champions put their CAF Champions League campaign back on track with a 1-0 win away to Egyptian side Pyramids FC.
Teboho Mokoena scored the lone goal for Pyramids with a brilliant long range shot, a 1-0 lead which they jealously guarded till the final whistle to pick their second win in Group A.
“It was a difficult game against a difficult side with very good players. We had to suffer in some of the moments and it showed that we can adapt to the conditions. It was necessary to suffer because in the end, we did not give away a lot of chances. I am happy with the performance of the team,” Mokwena said after the match.
He added; “Winning this match is a big a step but not a big enough step because it’s only three points that’s between us and the other two teams.”
The victory took Sundowns to seven points and second in the group. They are behind leaders TP Mazembe on goal difference.
Pyramids meanwhile drop bottom of the pile with four points after four rounds of matches.
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