CAIRO - Etoile Sahel of Tunisia produced a massive upset with a 3-1 away win over holders Al- Ahly to win a first African Champions League title on Friday.
CAIRO - Etoile Sahel of Tunisia produced a massive upset with a 3-1 away win over holders Al- Ahly to win a first African Champions League title on Friday.
The win denied the heavily fancied Egyptian club a record sixth title after a goalless draw in last month's first leg.
Etoile Sahel scored against the run of play in first-half stoppage time through Afouene Gharbi and then added two killer blows in time added on at the end of match thanks to Amine Chermiti and Moussa Narry.
In between, Al-Ahly equalised through defender Emad Al Nahhas who was then sent off on the hour mark for a professional foul.
"My happiness cannot be described," Gharbi said. "We have proved all the speculation wrong. All those who said Al- Ahly had a 70 percent chance of winning were wrong"
Poor marking allowed Gharbi to net the opener for Etoile Sahel, who had twice seen the ball rocket back off their own woodwork as Al-Ahly went straight on the attack.
Gharbi swept home a ball dragged back into the penalty area by captain Sabeur Ben Frej. Al-Ahly replied five minutes into the second half as they resumed their attacking play with Al Nahhas powering home ahead from a corner.
He was sent off 10 minutes later by Moroccan referee Abderrahim El Arjoune after tugging back teenage striker Chermiti who had broken free.
Al-Ahly, who needed to score again to avoid defeat on the away goals rule, made two quick changes to try and open up play but the Tunisian team's defence kept them at bay. The Egyptians appealed for a penalty twice during the second half but the referee waved play on.- Reuters
Etoile upset fancied Al- Ahly
CAIRO - Etoile Sahel of Tunisia produced a massive upset with a 3-1 away win over holders Al- Ahly to win a first African Champions League title on Friday.
CAIRO - Etoile Sahel of Tunisia produced a massive upset with a 3-1 away win over holders Al- Ahly to win a first African Champions League title on Friday.
The win denied the heavily fancied Egyptian club a record sixth title after a goalless draw in last month's first leg.
Etoile Sahel scored against the run of play in first-half stoppage time through Afouene Gharbi and then added two killer blows in time added on at the end of match thanks to Amine Chermiti and Moussa Narry.
In between, Al-Ahly equalised through defender Emad Al Nahhas who was then sent off on the hour mark for a professional foul.
"My happiness cannot be described," Gharbi said. "We have proved all the speculation wrong. All those who said Al- Ahly had a 70 percent chance of winning were wrong"
Poor marking allowed Gharbi to net the opener for Etoile Sahel, who had twice seen the ball rocket back off their own woodwork as Al-Ahly went straight on the attack.
Gharbi swept home a ball dragged back into the penalty area by captain Sabeur Ben Frej. Al-Ahly replied five minutes into the second half as they resumed their attacking play with Al Nahhas powering home ahead from a corner.
He was sent off 10 minutes later by Moroccan referee Abderrahim El Arjoune after tugging back teenage striker Chermiti who had broken free.
Al-Ahly, who needed to score again to avoid defeat on the away goals rule, made two quick changes to try and open up play but the Tunisian team's defence kept them at bay. The Egyptians appealed for a penalty twice during the second half but the referee waved play on.- Reuters
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