/ 23 July 2007

Al-Hilal snatch late goal for Champs League success

A late goal from experienced defender Yusuf Mohamed saw Sudan’s Al-Hilal snatch a second successive African Champions League Group B win, as they beat Asec Abidjan of Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in Omdurman.

The result kept the unfancied Sudanese in second place in the standings and well on course for a semifinal berth in their first year of competing in the league phase of the competition.

Mohamed hit a powerful shot from close range after a storming run that ended with him picking up a neat pass from his Nigerian compatriot Ndubuisi Eze.

Mohamed was twice a past winner of the Champions League with his previous club Enyimba of Nigeria.

Eze gave the hosts, seeking a second successive home win in the group, the perfect start in the 11th minute as he latched onto a long ball through the middle which Asec defender Abdu Adenon failed to clear.

Asec fought their way back and a snap effort from Ghana-born Idrissu Abdul Nafiu saw them equalise in the 53rd minute, the striker blasting home from the edge of the area after being set up by a run down the wing from full back Dacosta Akes Goore.

It was their first goal of the group phase.

Asec remain winless at the halfway stage of the group and now face a serious hurdle in their bid to match their semifinal appearance of last year.

Al-Ahli head the group standings with nine points from their three matches after beating Esperance of Tunisia 3-0 in Cairo on Friday. – Reuters