CAIRO: Shehab Ahmed scored three minutes into stoppage time to give Al-Ahly of Egypt a 3-0 triumph over Al-Ittihad of Libya Sunday and a dramatic entry to the African Champions League group draw.
Ahly, title holders a record six times and widely regarded as the most powerful African football club, squeezed through 3-2 on aggregate having lost 2-0 in Tripoli two weeks ago.
The first leg of the final round qualifier was marred by claims that Libyan supporters blinded the Ahly goalkeeper with a laser beam and Egyptian defender Wael Gomaa needed stitches when struck by a rock leaving the pitch.
Ittihad, whose best Champions League showing was reaching the 2007 semi-finals where they lost to Ahly, held the ‘Red Devils’ goalless at the 74,000-seat Cairo Stadium until the hour mark when Emad Meteb struck.
Mohamed Fadl leveled the aggregate score on 74 minutes and with a penalty shootout looming, Ahmed unleashed a long-range shot that flew past veteran goalkeeper Samir Aboud to trigger wild celebrations on and off the field.
Fellow Egyptians Ismailia, defending champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2009 runners-up Heartland of Nigeria and two-time winners JS Kabylie of Algeria also advanced to the lucrative mini-league phase.
Ismailia had home advantage and a one-goal lead over Al-Hilal of Sudan only to fall behind after 27 minutes when Zimbabwean Edward Sadomba scored and the visitors clung to their lead well into second half.
But Hilal collapsed in the closing stages to complete a miserable weekend for Sudan with Al-Merreikh eliminated Saturday, and goals from Mohamed Homos, Ahmed Farag and Ahmed Khairi gave the 1969 African champions a 3-1 win.
Djoliba of Mali trailed Mazembe 1-0 entering the Kinshasa return encounter and the last thing they needed was the red card shown to Oumar Konate midway through the first half.
Mazembe took full advantage to romp home 3-0 thanks to a couple of Alain Kaluyituka goals and one from fellow midfielder and captain Tresor Mputu, who is reportedly heading for Europe soon.
John Owoeri and Bello Kofarmata scored within four minutes during the second half as Heartland overcame South African visitors SuperSport United 3-1 in the south eastern city of Owerri.
Emeka Nwanna gave the Nigerians the lead on the day and on aggregate after a 1-1 first leg in Johannesburg by scoring on 38 minutes and Ugandan Brian Umony grabbed a late consolation goal.
Petro Atletico of Angola wiped out a two-goal first-leg deficit within 12 minutes of the kick-off in Luanda via goals from David Magalhaes and Ricardo Job, but Mohamed Aoudia reduced arrears to give Kabylie a 3-2 overall win.
The mini-league line-up will be completed by another Algerian club, Entente Setif, Esperance of Tunisia and Dynamos of Zimbabwe with the eight survivors split into two groups at the May 13 Cairo draw.
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An Egyptian Al-Ahly’s fan directs a laser towards the Libyan Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Samir Aboud during their African Champions League third round second leg football match in Cairo on May 9. AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI
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Libyan Al-Ittihad’s Abdulaziz Belreesh (L) and Egyptian Al-Ahly’s Mohamed Barakat compete for the ball during their African Champions League third round second leg football match in Cairo on May 9. AFP PHOTO/KHALED DESOUKI
