• Mugabe hosts Dynamos at State House • Spy row erupts as Dynamos meet Coton Sport • Davids slay Goliath of African football • Dynamos storm into Champions League semis • Marufu double sinks ASEC, throws Dynamos lifeline • Do-or-die for Dynamos in Abidjan • Desperate Dynamos cling to slim hope • Last gasp goal denies Dynamos point in Cairo • Dynamos fall to Zamalek, stay second • Giant-killing Dynamos claim Asec scalp • Dynamos beat African champions • Dynamos survive Mozambique scare • Dynamos take commanding lead over Sol

Posted to the web 06/10/2008 00:06:15
COTONSPORT Garoua of Cameroon put one foot in the African Champions League final after defeating Dynamos of Zimbabwe 1-0 Sunday.

Both teams adopted cautious formations and the visitors made the breakthrough on 32 minutes when Niger-born striker Kamilou Daouda scored with a fine header.

The potentially crucial goal in the first leg of the semi-final followed a fine cross from flying winger Baba Ousmaila.

Dynamos could have led as early as the seventh minute but after dribbing past several defenders, striker Benjamin Marere failed to beat Cotonsport goalkeeper Daouda Kassali.

Cotonsport had the ball in the net after 25 minutes through captain Ahmadou Ngomna, but the effort was disallowed as he used his hands instead of his head and was shown a yellow card.

Daouda's goal was his sixth this year in the competition, still far behind 13-goal leading scorer Stephen Worgu from Nigerian club Enyimba, who were hosting title favourites Al-Ahly of Egypt later Sunday in the other semi-final.

Dynamos goalkeeper Zondai Nyaungwa, standing in for suspended Willard Manyatera, should shoulder some blame for the only goal as he failed to deal effectively with the cross.

The 'Harare Glamour Boys' had to contend with opponents who continuously massed 10 players behind the ball as promised by coach Alain Oumbeldon before a match that drew a capacity 35,000 crowd to Rufaro Stadium.

"We came here to get a good result against a team that plays so well at home as evidenced by their victory over Egyptian club Zamalek a couple of weeks ago," the Ivory Coast-born coach said.

Although Dynamos poured forward in search for an equaliser, forcing nine corners, their strikers either shot wide or were foiled by an impressive Garoua defenders.

Captain Murape Murape could have equalised on 62 minutes but his overhead kick inside the penalty box flew over with only Kassali to beat.

During the second half, Cotonsport became more adventurous with Ngomna, initially a defensive midfielder, starting to push forward as the club from the northern town of Garoua sought a tie-clinching second goal.

The return match will be staged at the Omnisport Stadium in Garoua over the weekend of October 17-19 with the winners advancing to a two-leg final next month.

MTN CAF Champions League Champions League 2008

Semi-Final Fixtures:
1st Leg:

Enyimba v Al-Ahly (03-05/10/2008)

Dynamos 0-1 Coton Sport (03-05/10/2008)

2nd Leg:

Ahly Ahly v Enyimba (17-19/10/2008)

Coton Sport v Dynamos (17-19/10/2008)

GROUP A

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Al Ahly	6	3	3	0	9	6	12
Dynamos	6	3	0	3	6	6	9
Asec Mimosas	6	1	3	2	7	6	6
Zamalek	6	1	2	3	4	8	5

18-20/07/08: Al Ahly 2-1 Zamalek
18-20/07/08: Dynamos 2-1 Asec Mimosas

01-03/08/08: Zamalek 1-0 Dynamos
01-03/08/08: Asec Mimosas 0-0 Al Ahly

15-17/08/08: Al Ahly 2-1 Dynamos
15-17/08/08: Zamalek 0-0 Asec Mimosas

29-31/08/08: Asec Mimosas 3-0 Zamalek
29-31/08/08: Dynamos 0-1 Al Ahly

12-14/09/08: Zamalek 2-2 Al Ahly
12-14/09/08: Asec Mimosas 1-2 Dynamos

19-21/09/08: Al Ahly 2-2 Asec Mimosas
19-21/09/08: Dynamos 1-0 Zamalek

GROUP B

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Coton Sport	6	3	1	2	6	5	10
Enyimba	6	3	0	3	10	10	9
TP Mazembe	6	2	2	2	7	5	8
Al Hilal	6	1	3	2	7	10	6

18-20/07/08: Al Hilal 3-2 Enyimba
18-20/07/08: Coton Sport 1-0 TP Mazembe

01-03/08/08: Enyimba 2-0 Coton Sport
01-03/08/08: TP Mazembe 0-0 Al Hilal

15-17/08/08: Enyimba 2-0 TP Mazembe
15-17/08/08: Al Hilal 1-1 Coton Sport

29-31/08/08: Coton Sport 1-0 Al Hilal
29-31/08/08: TP Mazembe 3-0 Enyimba

12-14/09/08: Enyimba 4-1 Al Hilal
12-14/09/08: TP Mazembe 2-0 Coton Sport

19-21/09/08: Coton Sport 3-0 Enyimba
19-21/09/08: Al Hilal 2-2 TP Mazembe

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