Match Day 1 of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group Stages kicked-off with an unexpected twist, as Young Africans SC were stunned 2-0 by Al Hilal on Tuesday, 26 November at Dar es Salaam’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Two second half goals by Adama Coulibaly and late strike by Yasser Muzammil saw the Tanzanian champions start off their continental campaign on the back foot, as Hilal move top of Group A.
A highly vocal Benjamin Mkwapa arena rallied the Tanzanian champions, who pinned their opponents into their own half from the onset, with the lively Aziz Ki orchestrating play for the Tanzanian champions.
Despite having most of the possession, Al Hilal kept their opposition at bay to come back a more improved side in the second stanza.
Coming off the break, the hosts continued sending numbers forward but left the backdoor open, as long ball by the keeper found an alert Adama Coulibaly, who showed composure in seeing off his marker before calmly slotting the ball in between the keeper’s legs.
The hosts immediately went in search of the leveller but were again kept at bay by the Al Hilal defence.
The final nail in the coffin was hammered by Yasser Muzammil with a similar goal to Coulibaly, as he connected well with a long-threaded ball to run at the keeper for a near post finish to seal the victory.
Meanwhile in another Group A fixture, TP Mazembe’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title hopes did not get off to the best start after being held to a goalless draw by Algeria’s MC Alger.
SOURCE: CAF ONLINE
