Sadomba rescues Al Hilal again

third goal in as many group games found the target with a diving header 19 minutes from time to ensure The Blue Sharks stayed on course for a semi-final berth with a 1-1 draw.
His goal cancelled out a 37th minute strike by InterClube’s Joao Eman Rosa Barros which the Angolan forward had reportedly scrambled home from a crowded box off a corner.
The Angolans, who sent Dynamos packing from the Confederation Cup third round-play off, seemed on course for their first win in the Group A games as they held onto their slender lead for much of the match.
But 19 minutes from time Sadomba struck with a diving header as he got to the end of a cross from Al Hilal’s Cameroonian and former TP Mazembe midfielder Narcisse Ekanga.
With the group games now at the halfway stage, Al Hilal and InterClube must also square off again in Khartoum in the reverse fixture in a fortnight.
The Blue Sharks would need to win that game in Khartoum in order to    seal their semi-final place and it would then be down to who has the most number of points between El Merreikh and them to determine who tops the group.
But for former Dynamos and Liga Muculmana kingpin Sadomba, it was the joy of maintaining their unbeaten run and keeping alive their hopes of reaching that final of the tournament which mattered most.
“The match was tough. Tactically InterClube are a good side but we also created a lot of chances which we unfortunately didn’t take,’’ Sadomba said.
With their bitter Khartoum rivals El Merreikh winning 2-1 against fellow Sudanese opponents Al Ahly Shandy, Al Hilal’s second successive draw meant that they dropped into second place on the Group standings with five points.
Crucially they were indebted to their speedy Zimbabwean international Sadomba who two weeks ago also volleyed home in the second half to salvage a 1-1 draw in the massive derby clash against Merreikh.
According to reports from Khartoum Egypt goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary suffered a cut lip and broken teeth after being stoned following their match against Al Ahly Shandy.
Al Hadary had helped Omdurman club Merreikh defeat Al Ahly Shandy 2-0 in an all-Sudan Group A match — a result that triggered stone throwing by supporters of the losers.
The star, who is still first choice goalkeeper for record seven-time African champions Egypt at the age of 39, received hospital treatment before joining national squad team-mates in Cairo ahead of a friendly against Benin.
Merreikh lead the group by two points at the halfway stage after arch domestic rivals Al Hilal were held 1-1 at bottom-of-the-table InterClube of Angola.
Former Confederation Cup runners-up Merreikh have seven points, Hilal five, Ahly three and InterClube one with three rounds left and two semi-finals slots up for grabs.
Giant killers AC Leopards from Congo Brazzaville came from behind to draw 1-1 at Stade Malien of Mali in Group B and keep alive hopes of making the last four of the second-tier competition.
Ousmane Cisse scored for 2009 Confederation Cup winners Stade after 35 minutes and Treston Lakolo equalised before half-time to leave the home side still seeking their first mini-league victory.