MC Alger earned three valuable points in their CAF Champions League campaign on Friday with a 1-0 home victory over TP Mazembe in Group A action from Algiers. Akram Bouras converted a first half penalty kick to leave MCA with eight points from four matches in second place, four points clear of third placed Young Africans.
Mazembe, last placed in the group, needed a victory away from home but the Ravens failed to pose much of an attacking threat. 17-year-old Mazembe starlet Farveudi Beenga created danger with a swift dribbling run down the left wing but after maneuvering past two MCA defenders there was no teammate to meet Beenga's low cross.
The decisive moment of the match arrived in the 32nd minute when Mazembe captain and central defender Magloire Ntambwe tripped MCA attacker Tayeb Meziani at the edge of the penalty area. Despite fierce protests the foul was judged to be in the box and Bouras dispatched his penalty past Mazembe goalkeeper Alioune Badara Faty.
After halftime there was little threat to the MCA lead. It always looked more likely for the hosts to double their lead and the Algerian club held on for a victory that was not emphatic good enough. MCA will hope that Group A leaders Al-Hilal defeat Young Africans on Sunday or else they will need to avoid defeat on the final day when they travel to face Yanga in Tanzania. TP Mazembe are mathematically eliminated with today's result.
Updated Group A Table
GP | Points | |
Al-Hilal Omdurman | 4 | 10 |
MC Alger | 5 | 8 |
Young Africans | 4 | 4 |
TP Mazembe | 5 | 2 |
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