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Ittihad advance past group stages!
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To the surprise of most of Egypt, and indeed most of Africa, Ittihad Alexandria have advanced to the Semi-finals of the African Champions League! Their first game of the group stage was against
Etoile du Sahel, away from home. They got their first goal of the group stages right before half time, with
Oumar Dicko scoring a close range finish which was timed impeccably to round of a great team move. However the lead only lasted until the 53rd minute, with
Ben Yahia running from his own half on the counter before hitting a well struck effort. And that is how it finished, 1-1, a reasonable score for both teams.
The second game came against
Wydad Casablanca. Ittihad took an early lead in the 3rd minute through
Bentley, who showed his class by scoring a curling shot from the edge of the area. The second half had begun before Ittihad doubled their lead. This time the goal was scored by Nigerian ST
Michael Eneramo, who scored a close range header. A glimmer of hope then arose for Wydad, with
Najdi, like Eneramo, scoring a header. Ittihad put the final nail in the coffin in the 81st minute. Again, the goal coming from
Eneramo, a header much alike his first. Ittihad came away with their first win, and it was a very comfortable one.
The final of the three teams for Ittihad to play was
JS Kabylie. This was the first game that ittihad were favourites to win, but would this add preasure beyond what the team could take? Evidently not, as they took the lead after just 40 seconds. The early goal was scored by midfielder
Amaral, who scored a tidy finish from close range. Young striker
Mahmoud, who recently signed a professional contract with Kean's side, doubled the lead, hitting a tap-in.
Mahmoud doubled his tally in the 60th minute scoring a placed shot to round of a memorable team move. In the 75th minute, it was made 4, by Mali striker
Dicko, who scored a powerful finesse shot. In the matches final moments, it was made 5. By who you ask? Who else but
Mahmoud, running in and joining onto a cross to volley it into the top corner. Game over Kabylie.
So, time for the reverse fixtures.....
First up was
Wydad Casablanca, who were looking for revenge after their 3-1 loss. And they actually took the lead in the 49th minute, with
Najdi scoring the goal, scorer for them in both legs. And Ittihad were really struggling, into extra time it went. But Ittihad aren't a side that just give up. In the dying seconds, out of nowhere
Eneramo scored a well struck effort, evening the score to 1-1, which is how it finished.
Next up were
Etoile du Sahel, who drew the first leg 1-1. The second leg was a real bore of a game, with little action. However, one goal was scored in the 77th minute, the scorer being
Bentley, hitting a real poachers effort. And with that 1-0 win, Ittihad were confirmed to advance to the next stage, but there was still one last game.
JS Kabylie were the last of the bunch, and Ittihad had nothing to play for, so a slightly weaker team was started, with just the key players keeping their positions. And it was evident that the side weren't performing to the standards set in the last fixture against this club. However, in the 51st minute, star striker
Eneramo was able to break through the defence and find the back of the net, the only goal of the game...So Ittihad are now in the Semi-finals, and are due to play fellow Egyptian club
Al-Ahly in the final.
