adminTP Mazembe’S 2014 Caf Champions League Group A campaign got off to a worrying start when they suffered a setback on Friday night after falling 0-1 away to Al Hilal of Sudan in Khartoum.
The match was the first time the two sides were meeting since the 2009 Caf Champions League semi-finals where Mazembe suffered a rare home defeat at the hands of their Sudanese opponents who beat them 2-0 in Lubumbashi.
Mazembe still advanced 5-4 on aggregate after they won 5-2 in the first leg tie played in Khartoum on the DR Congo giants’ way to lifting their third African title.
It didn’t help matters on Friday night in the Sudanese capital that the architect of that infamous win, in the form of Brazilian-born coach Paulo Campos, was back in the dugout for Al Hilal following his reappointment a fortnight ago.
This, after Tunisian Nasreddine Nabi’s sudden decision to quit the job after less than a year in charge.
Meanwhile, Mazembe gave Al Hilal an early fright when their influential Ghana midfielder Gladson Awako’s shot in the 15th minute was saved by Al Hilal goalkeeper Jumma Ginaro.
The visitors, too, survived a first-half scare in the 30th minute when Hilal defender Saifalden Ali’s header was saved by Robert Kidiaba.
Just before the end of the first half, Al Hilal suffered injury setbacks when Mohamed Ahmed Bashir and Saifalden limped off and were replaced by Simpo and Muhammad al Tahir.
Al Hilal secured the three points in the 65th minute when Bakri Abdelgadir’s cross was met by Salah Algozoli, who headed the ball past Kidiaba.
The Sudanese head Group A on three points, ahead of today’s final Group A fixture on match day one between AS Vita of DR Congo who host Zamalek of Egypt in Kinshasa. — Supersport.
Online Reporter