CAIRO: Ismaili claimed a morale-boosting 4-2 victory at home to fellow Egyptians Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League on Sunday, softening the blow of their elimination from the competition.
Ahly had booked their place in the semi-finals of the tournament a week ago when they beat Nigeria’s Heartland FC 2-1 in Cairo.
They therefore rested several of their top stars, including Mohamed Abou-Trika and Wael Gomaa, for the visit to Ismaili, who fielded their strongest line-up in a match that was ultimately no more than a formality.
Abdallah Al-Shahat fired the hosts in front after only five minutes, but Mohamed Barakat brought the scores level in the 35th minute.
Moments later, Ismaili regained their lead when Egypt international striker Ahmed Ali hit the target.
Moatasem Salem made it 3-1 in favor of the home team in the 80th minute, before Ali completed a brace four minutes later.
Mohamed Talaat, one of several fringe players on duty, pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 87th minute.
Ismaily thus avenged the 2-1 loss they suffered in the reverse fixture and the win ensured they finished third in the group with six points.
Ahly have eight points from six matches and will meet Esperance of Tunisia in the semi-finals early next month.
It was not the outcome that Ahly coach Hossam Al-Badri had hoped for, having publicly stated his wish to avoid the Tunisians in the last four.
Esperance edged Dynamos of Zimbabwe 1-0 in Harare on Saturday to finish top of Group A.
Skipper Oussema Darragi was on target after 21 minutes against ‘The Glamour Boys’ of Zimbabwe as the Tunisian champions claimed a narrow win.
Esperance thus finished as overall winners of the group with 13 points, while defending champions TP Mazembe from DR Congo were second on 11 points after they could only manage a 0-0 draw at Entente Setif of Algeria.
Setif finished third in the table with six points, while Dynamos were bottom with three points.
JS Kabylie remained unbeaten in the mini-league stage of the competition after they held Heartland to a 1-1 draw in Owerri, south-east Nigeria.
Emeka Nwanna opened the scoring for the home side from the penalty spot on 31 minutes after the impressive Joshua Obaje was brought down inside the box.
The high-riding Algerians restored parity in the 50th minute when midfielder Nabil Yalaoui tapped home after Heartland goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi could not hold onto a shot from inside the area.
"We’re satisfied with the result, even though this was a very difficult game and the bad pitch did not help our cause," said JSK’s Swiss coach, Alain Geiger. "Our focus will now turn to TP Mazembe in the semi-final."
Mazembe host JSK on Oct. 3, with the return leg match taking place in Tizi-Ouzou two weeks later on Oct. 17.
The final, also played over two legs, is fixed for Oct. 31 and Nov. 14, with the champions going on to represent Africa at the 2010 FIFA Club World Championship, hosted by the United Arab Emirates in December.
