A firm candidate for Goal of the Competition put DR Congo’s AS Vita Club in the lead away from home but JS Kabylie of Algeria stormed back for a crucial 2-1 victory in Group A of the CAF Champions League on Saturday. The victory in Algiers moves JSK firmly into second position three points behind group leaders Wydad AC and three points ahead of third place Petro de Luanda. AS Vita Club, in last place four points back of JSK following the result, suffer a devastating blow to their hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals with two matches left to play.
The encounter was widely expected to be low scoring with both teams struggling to produce goals and the first half played out as predicted. Chances were few and far between but VClub goalkeeper Farid Ouédraogo did well to deny a hard low shot from Mustapha Alili following a corner kick in the 32nd minute. VClub playmaker Marouf Tchakei came close before halftime when his curling free kick from the left wing went just wide of the far post.
However, Tchakei produced a free kick goal that silenced the home support in style ten minutes into the second half. The Togolese playmaker sent a perfectly struck shot from forty yards out that swerved in the air and left JSK goalkeeper Abderrahmane Medjadel flat footed as he watched the ball fly into the net.
The hosts did excellently to regain their composure and equalized eight minutes later when right back Kouceila Bouahia’s cross found central defender Moussa Benzaid for a volley past Ouédraogo. JSK continued to push and control play, finding a massive match winner in the 86th minute. Benzaid’s low pass from the defense was cleverly flicked by Reda Boumechra to send fellow substitute Massinissa Nait in on goal and the young forward made no mistake with his finish to beat Ouédraogo and give JSK a huge victory.
Highlights are below.
Marouf Tchakei’s incredible free kick gives VClub the lead before JSK equalize
Massinissa Nait wins it for JSK lateÂ
