DeMbare crash out

(Aggregate score 4-4. MC Alger win on away goals’ rule)
THE great Algerian robbery!
An Egyptian buffoon, masquerading as a referee, played the devil’s advocate for the benefit of Algerians as Dynamos’ 2011 Champions Lea-gue dance came to a crashing end amid chaotic scenes at Stade Omar Hamadi here last night.
Statistics will show that Bedbouda scored a brace while Mokdad chipped in with the other goal as MC Alger overturned a 1-4 defeat suffered in the first leg in Harare to book a second round clash with Angola’s Desportivo Interclube.
However, only a lunatic can argue against the notion that Egyptian referee Fahim Omar handed the Algerian side passage into the next round of what is supposed to be Africa’s premier club competition.
Omar sent off two Dynamos players – Archieford Gutu and Guthrie Zhokinyi – in mysterious circumstances, awarded a penalty to MC Alger because their striker had headed wide before adding an astonishing seven minutes of injury time during which Bedbouda struck the decisive goal.
It was a cruel blow on a DeMbare outfit that had battled hard to bring some respectability to a game that had “FIXED” written all over it.
With 13 minutes to go MC Alger, despite leading 1-0 courtesy of Bedbouda’s 43rd minute opener, were clearly on their way out but in Omar they had an ace.
Omar perplexingly pointed to the spot after Douadi headed wide and he even had the temerity of sending off Gutu, the closest DeMbare player to the misfiring striker.
Mokdad converted the farcical penalty to leave MC Alger needing a goal to go through.
That goal came deep into injury time with Bedbouda slotting past Washington Arubi from inside the box.
In the first half the Green Dragon, as MC Alger are known by their exuberant supporters, came out firing with Bedbouda having his ferocious effort from just outside the box calmly smothered by an alert Arubi on three minu- tes.
The home side’s skipper Babouche then had a good chance to give his side the early opener they badly needed on six minutes but the man, who converted a late penalty to give the Algerians an away goal in Harare, shot tamely.
Arubi then went on to pull off a string of fine saves before having Farai Vimisayi to thank for keeping his goal virgin territory as the former Lancashire Steel and Hwange man showed great alertness in clearing Zedani’s flashing header off the line on 25 minutes.
With DeMbare defending deep lone striker Rodrick Mutuma was starved of possession but showed his predatory skills when he did well to turn his man and curl the ball inches wide as Lloyd Mutasa’s men fashioned out their first chance half an hour into the game.
Their first crack at goal appeared to spur the Zimbabwean giants on with Denver Mukamba and Gutu piercing the MC Alger defence with some neat, one touch passes.
But just when Dynamos looked like they would be going for the breather on level terms a swinging cross from the right channel caught their defenders sleeping to the benefit of Bedbouda who fired home from close range.
With DeMbare 0-1 down at half time, the trio of Gutu, Mukamba and Arubi on Egyptian referee Fahim Omar’s cautions list, skipper Desmond Maringwa and his lieutenants were still in control of their destiny as the aggregate score read 4-2 in their favour.
It nearly got worse for Dynamos a minute into the second period but the heavens smiled on our boys, Youcef’s volley beating a drawn out Arubi but not the crossbar.
MC Alger, with the assistance of some questionable calls from Omar, continued to threaten.
Mutasa reacted by pulling out Maringwa for the combative Milton Makopa as the Dynamos coach sought to choke the Algerians by having two defensive midfielders.
However, the Algerians continued to look threatening, especially down the right channel, and it came as no surprise when the artistry of Mukamba had to be sacrificed in favour of Patrick Khumbula’s grit.
From the opposition’s corner MC Alger coach Zekri went for broke as he opted to do business with three out-and-out strikers but the goals just could not come.
Then the shameless Omar intervened to spell doom for DeMbare.
Teams
MC Alger: Zemmamouche, Besghir, Bedbouda, Zedani, Megherbi, Daud, Koudri, Mokdad, Babouche (Attafan 20 min), Youcef (Amourani 72), Douadi
Dynamos: Arubi, Zhokinyi, Kutyauripo, Magariro, Magorimbo, Maringwa, (Makopa 53), Mukamba (Khumbula 60), Gutu, Vimisayi, Chafa, Mutuma, (Bello 82).