2023-04-29 22:10:40
The tie also dominated the confrontation between Esperance de Tunis and its Alex Reed JS Kabylie, 1-1, in a match that witnessed riots and skirmishes between the public and security.
Al-Ahly, seeking its eleventh title and strengthening its record, will meet Esperance, who aspires to the fifth title.
At the “Mohamed V” stadium in Casablanca, Al-Ahly confirmed that it had reached the semi-finals of the continental competition for the fourth time in a row.
The confrontation was preceded by riots in the vicinity of the stadium and stampede due to the fans’ dissatisfaction with their inability to enter the stadium, which resulted in the death of a 29-year-old woman, according to a statement by the local authorities of the city of Casablanca.
An official source told Agence France-Presse that the death was “due to a medical condition causing pain to the victim,” while a judicial investigation was announced to “determine its circumstances and circumstances.”
The Tunisian coach, Raja Munther Al-Kabeer, relied on an offensive squad led by Hamza Khaba and Nawfal Al-Zarhouni, while the Swiss coach of Al-Ahly, Marcel Koller, did not make many changes to the first-leg squad, with the exception of the inclusion of Hamdi Fathy in place of the injured Amr Al-Suleya.
And the Tunisian full-back of Al-Ahly, Ali Maaloul, said that his team deserved to qualify for the golden square, and added, “Given the great effort we made in the two matches, we deserve to pass to the semi-finals.” It is normal, and in the second, we knew how to absorb the enthusiasm of the Raja players and lead the match to safety and snatch qualification, hoping that we would follow in a high pace to reach the final.”
The owners of the land pressed from the start, and Zarhouni hit from afar. The ball hit the Egyptian defense and passed outside the stadium (9), and the Moroccan team continued its control, but the danger was almost non-existent in the goal of international goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy, who saved Algerian Yousri Bouzouk’s shot from under the crossbar into a corner ( 27).
Bouzouk executed a corner kick crosswise, and Mohamed Al-Mekazi grabbed the ball with his head, which passed over the goal (40).
Libyan international referee Moataz Ibrahim awarded a penalty kick to Raja following he returned to the video referee technique, “VAR”, following a mistake by Mali Aliou Diang on Bouzouk, who hit the ball himself, which bounced off the crossbar (45 + 3).
The scene did not change in the second half, as the absolute advantage of the landlords continued, especially following the great offensive coach changed by involving Mohamed Polaksut and veteran Abdel-Ilah Al-Hafizi, in exchange for the Egyptian team closing all avenues towards Al-Shennawi’s goal.
Al-Hafizhi passed a cross in front of the goal from the right, which Hamza Khaba met with a shot into the side netting from the outside (75).
Koller pushed offensive names, hoping to hijack the meeting, as Muhammad Sharif and Taher Muhammad Taher entered. Khaba almost hit the net following a shot from inside the penalty area, which Al-Shennawi removed from the bottom right of his own goal (90 + 2).
Qualify riot…too!
And at the “Hammadi Al-Aqrabi” stadium in Rades, Esperance tied with its Alex Reed, JS Kabylie, 1-1, in a match that witnessed great violence between the public and security.
The Bab Souika team qualified by winning the first leg in Algeria with a clean goal.
The first half did not rise to the level of the importance of the meeting, due to the great reservations of the two teams, so the play was confined to the midfield with scarce chances, the most prominent of which was for the homeowners when Moroccan Saber Boukrine hit a powerful ball that was blocked by Algerian goalkeeper Abdel Rahman Majadel with an achievement (22).
The referee canceled a goal for the guests via Wasila Boualia on the grounds of offside (32). And Muhammad Ali bin Ramadan pushed it back to a corner (40).
The start of the second half was delayed for more than forty minutes due to the clash between the Esperance fans and the security forces charged with protecting the match, and a fire broke out in one of the southern corners of the stadium due to the throwing of fire meteors, and the security units responded by firing tear gas, causing chaos in the stands.
Bin Ramadan was able to put Esperance in the lead with a powerful left shot, which settled in the right scissors of Majadel’s goal, following a long front pass from Yassin Meriah (49).
The Algerian team threw all its cards to control the course, while the Tunisians relied on quick counterattacks and Muhammad Ali Bin Hamouda was alone, but he failed to deceive goalkeeper Majadal, who saved the situation (63).
The “Canary” equalized when Dadi Al-Hussein Mawaqi made a distinguished individual effort and hit a powerful ball, which bounced off Esperance goalkeeper Moez Bin Sharifia to substitute Adam Radim, who followed it into the goal (84).
Kabyle players tightened their control and threatened the Esperance goal in the last minutes, and Mawaqi almost qualified for his team, but Ben Cherifieh shone in blocking his powerful shot (90 + 5).
Sundowns deservedly
Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa, reached the semi-finals, following renewing its victory over its Alex Reed, Al-Shabab Al-Sport, Algerian Belouizdad, 2-1, in Pretoria.
Sundowns, the champion of the 2016 edition, deservedly reached the semi-finals, following winning the first leg 4-1 in Algeria, where it will clash with the defending champion Wydad Athletic of Morocco, who defeated Simba Tanzanian on penalties.
The two teams shared control of the course of the first half, with a relative advantage for the hosts, but the Algerian league champion was able to open the scoring through Sofiane Bouchard with a powerful shot, investing in the pass of midfielder Youssef Laafia (24).
Before the half-time break, Mamelodi equalized through his top scorer, Themba Zwane, with a shot that deceived goalkeeper Alexis Kunduz following a cross from Thabelo Morena (45).
Barely four minutes into the second half, Morena gave the hosts the lead with a powerful shot that bounced back at him from one of the Algerian team’s defenders (49).
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