Sunday Aug 20, 1615 GMT
Jeanne d'Arc (Senegal) - Al Ahly (Egypt)
1:1
Before the match:
Jeanne d'Arc needing a success
desperately to retain theoretical chances. Al Ahly also under pressure
to win after Hearts Of Oak two weeks ago just did that at the Senegalese
club and did the same today at Nigerian Lobi Stars. Al Ahly losing points
would mean a maybe already decisive advantage for Hearts Of Oak. At least
they would not be able to catch up with the Ghana champions without the
help of Hearts unexpectedly losing points at home to to outsiders!
1st half:
-both teams in their traditional
outfits, Jeanne d'Arc in blue and white stripes, Al Ahly in red
-('8) first nice Al Ahly
attack has the defence including keeper played out but no player in the
middle to convert the low square pass
-the first 20 minutes see
an open match - Jeanne d'arc attacking and Al Ahly answering, both with
some nice combinations regarding the pitch
-('21) a fast Al Ahly
counter attack after winning the ball in midfield and a low ball from the
right hand side is pushed across the line by #17 Alaa Ibrahim from close
range - 0:1
-('23) huge opportunity
after a corner for Jeanne d'Arc: an all unmarked player (defender) has
a perfect header situation from 6 meters but his attempt goes across the
bar
-('24) another huge opportunity
for Jeanne d'Arc - a great save against close range attempt - has the ball
crossed the line? - the players argue but the referee has seen something
different, a foul or an offside, and gives free kick for Al Ahly
-since the goal the Senegalese
champions have even accelerated the game and displayed their potential
to create opportunities
-('30) Egyptian keeper secures
a difficult free kick: the shot was neither hard nor precise but it bounced
on the uneven ground
-('34) Jeanne survive a
confusing passing sequence of Al Ahly in the Senegalese penalty area
-('36) it is Jeanne d'Arc
again threatening
-continuing attacking
waves by Jeanne d'Arc for the rest of the half but no clearcut chances
halftime 0:1
Al Ahly a bit lucky to lead
at halftime. In their away match four weeks ago at Hearts they made the
mistake (leading with the same score at halftime) to rely too much on their
defence and paid with a last minute loss. Against Jeanne d'Arc who have
shown in first half that they are capable of creating chances, an attitude
like that could become costly too.
2nd half:
-('47) Al Ahly with the
first goal scene after a free kick cross from the right hand side but ball
goes wide
-('51) the Senegalese attacks
have now produced a number of yellow cards for Al Ahly players who had
stopped their opponents by fouls
-in the following minutes
Jeanne d'Arc with some more ball possession but only minor goal scenes
on both sides. Jeanne d'Arc more and more replacing their constructiive
attacks by simple diagonal crosses into the penalty area on the long strikers.
What does not look very dangerous finally pays off:
-('66) Jeanne d'Arc scores
- 1:1
-('67) after another attack
by Jeanne d'Arc the Al Ahly keeper has to be treated several minutes for
an injury
.('71)('74) the match continues
but after three minutes the keeper sinks down again and treatment continues.
After a minute the keeper can play on
-('84) dangerous looking
scene in front of the Al Ahly goal when a bouncing cross ball squares the
penalty area and can neither get converted nor cleared
-('87) promising Al Ahly
attack stopped by offside
-there should be several
minutes of injury time after the injury of the Egyptian keeper
-('injury
time) Al Ahly #4 Ibrahim Sahid falls and wants a penalty but gets a yellow
card for diving, it is his his second so he is sent off
-('injury time) Jeanne d'Arc:
free kick from 20 meters, good save by the Al Ahly keeper
final result 1:1
And the winners are... Hearts
Of Oak. With 5 points ahead and two home matches against the two weaker
teams of the group at hand they might not even need a point from their
only remaining away match at Cairo. Al Ahly can only hope for a little
miracle, Jeanne d'Arc needs an absurd one.
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