Stars outshine the Egyptians
2008-04-26 18:39
Pretoria - Platinum Stars scored their biggest win in their 10 year history and became the first South African side to beat Al Ahly when they beat the Egyptian giants 2-1 in an entertaining African Champions League, third round, first leg clash played at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium on Saturday.
A fantastic finish in injury time from midfielder Edwards Williams earned Stars their historic win.
Three other South African sides Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town have failed to beat the five time African Champions. Ajax managed a 0-0 draw but lost in the second leg in Cairo.
Stars outshone the newly crowned Egyptian champions and the African Team of the Century for most of this match and more than deserve the one goal advantage they take into the second leg in Cairo in two weeks.
Stars were handicapped when their two regular strikers Luis Renteria and Phumudzo Manenzhe were missing from the starting line-up. But despite not being at full strength, they did South Africa proud and showed no respect for the five time winners of the most prestigious club trophy in Africa. Stars gave as good as they got and in the end were unlucky not to have beaten their highly rated Egyptian opponents by a bigger margin.
Colombian born Renteria was not registered in time while former Orlando Pirates hitman Manenzhe was injured.
Fortunately for Stars they had Simba Marumo to lead the attack. Marumo who returned recently form a long lay-off due to injury put himself about but he rarely got any room to move and he was tightly marked by the well disciplined Al Ahly defenders.
Goal scoring chances were few and far between in a tactical half in which neither side gave an inch. Stars edged an entertaining but slowed paced opening 45 minutes.
The Egyptians impressed with their patient build ups but failed to test Stars goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands once during the opening stanza.
Stars created panic in the Al Ahly defence in the 21st minute when Lefa Mogaila shot from Koketso Mmotong's corner was cleared off the Al Ahly goalline.
Mmotong caught the eye for Stars. He gave the Al Ahly defenders plenty of problems with his probing runs down the left wing. His crosses were also accurate and kept keeper Amir Abdul Hamid on his toes.
Abdul Hamid made the only save of the first half when he did well to deny Tshepo Ramokala the breakthrough in the 38th minute.
Mmotong's blushes were spared by the offside flag on the stroke of halftime. The Stars winger with the goal at his mercy ballooned Edward Williams inch perfect cross over the Al Ahly crossbar. But it was just as well as had he scored it would not have counted.
Marumo lost his marker in the 54th minute and laid on a brilliant through ball for Mmotong who wasted the rare opportunity when he tamely shot straight at the grateful advancing Abdul Hamid.
Al Ahly created their first real chance on Stars goal two minutes later when Mohamed Aboutrika found himself in space but his shot screamed over the crossbar.
But Mmotong, who was man of the match, was rewarded in the 59th minute with what could turn out to be a vital goal. He coolly picked his spot after again being set up by the wide awake Marumo and this time gave the Al Ahly keeper no chance by slotting the ball into the far corner.
But the goal sparked the new Egyptian champions into action. They showed a lot more urgency and started attacking in numbers. Dangerman Aboutrika was unlucky when his curling shot cannoned off the upright after 65 minutes.
Mmotong could have made it 2-0 in the 71st minute but with only the keeper to beat the Stars winger hesitated and the chance was lost.
Marumo forced Abdul Hamid to make a stunning save on 81 minutes.
After Moteab equalised two minutes later, Stars refused to surrender and Marumo set up Williams who blasted home to the delight of the small but enthusiastic crowd making it 2-1 and inflicting the first defeat on Al Ahly on South African soil.
- SAPA