• 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

By Nkanyiso Moyo

Dynamos.....0
AlAhly.........1

ON THE bright side, Dynamos can still qualify for the African Champions League semi-finals. But they have to do it the hard way – winning away to ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast on September 13 and doing the same at home against Egyptian club Zamalek a fortnight later.

But against run-away group leaders Aly Ahly on Saturday, Dynamos were simply not at the races.

Or in the words of their coach, David Mandigora: “We did not play at all. We defended throughout the match never being on the offensive.”

So dire was the performance that a disappointed Rufaro Stadium vented its fury on match officials and anything in red with intermittent throwing of objects onto the pitch.

If defeat was hard to stomach, a likely punishment by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the missile-throwing could hit the Zimbabwean champions where it really hurts – the pocket.

The all important goal for the Egyptian champions – two were disallowed – came in the 9th minute from the boot of Mohammed Barakat after some intelligent work by Mohammed Abou Trika.

Trika’s ball trickery fooled Justice Majabvi who remained rooted to the spot. The Egyptian wizard who scored Al Ahly's winner in the reverse fixture teed up Barakat whose strike clipped the upright on its way into the net with goalkeeper Willard Manyatera on the wrong side of the action.

It could have got worse on 20 minutes as Abou Trika streaked through, but Manyatera was quickly off his life to foil the raid.

On a day of scant positives for Dynamos so desperately needing a win, Philip Marufu played his heart out, and so did stand-in skipper, Thomas Sweswe. But without their captain Murape Murape and his deputy, Desmond Maringwa, Dynamos lacked any authority all over the pitch.

When the post-mortem begins, the result could be one of “undetermined”. Dynamos just switched off. Their fans will hope it’s temporary.

Assistant coach David George offered his own explanation for an abject performance by his team: “Our players gave too much respect to the visitors and it was bad timing conceding that early goal. The goal was courtesy of bad marking and Al Ahly took advantage of the situation. At this stage you are punished for silly mistakes.”

CHASING: Dynamos' Lazarus Muhoni (right) in action against Al Ahly of Egypt

With Asec Mimosas beating Zamalek 3-0 in the other match to move into a semi-final place contention, it’s no doomsaying to conclude that Dynamos are now up against it.

The victory lifted the 1998 champions to five points in Group A and second place, one point ahead of Zamalek and two in front of Dynamos.

If ASEC use home advantage to overcome Dynamos on September 13 and Zamalek fail to defeat bitter Cairo rivals Ahly the following day, the Ivorians will be through to the penultimate phase.

But there could yet be a twist if Dynamos upstage the team that beat them in the 1998 final.

In Group B, Baba Ousmaila scored after 62 minutes Saturday to give surprise packets Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon a 1-0 home victory over 2007 semi-finalists Al-Hilal of Sudan and top spot in Group B with seven points.

Enyimba of Nigeria remain second, one point adrift, despite a humiliating 3-0 loss Sunday away to Tout Puissant Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a showdown between two-time champions.

Captain Mputu Mabi created the 19th-minute opening goal for Mvete Luyeye and converted a penalty midway through the second half before substitute Kabangu Mulota poured salt into gaping Nigerian wounds with a late third.

Apart from a million-dollar first prize, the winners of the African Champions League qualify for the annual year-end FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

African Champions League Results
Group A:
Dynamos 0-1 Al Ahly; ASEC Mimosas 3-0 Zamalek

Group B:
Tout Puissant Mazembe 3-0 Enyimba; Coton Sport 1-0 Al-Hilal

Teams
Dynamos: W. Manyatera, T. Sweswe, L. Mapuya, B. Tuwaya, S. Mutenheri, J. Majabvi, L. Muhoni (R. Mhlanga 73mins), D. Phiri (B. Marere 56mins), P.
Marufu, E. Sadomba, W. Sithole (C. Gomba 58mins)

Al Ahly: A. Mohamed, A. Moussa, A. Hamid (A. Belal 79mins), S. Fatiah, M. Ahmed, F. Graca, A. Boujelben, M. Aboutrika (E. Ahmed 86mins), F. Amado (A. Kamel 62mins), H. Ashour, W. Kamel

Match Officials
Referee: Pare Lassina, 1st Assistant: Pare Lassina, 2nd Assistant: Diaby Lalamen, 4th Official Banado Seydon (all Burkina Faso)

Estimated attendance: 35 000

GROUP A

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Al Ahly	4	3	1	0	5	2	10
Asec Mimosas	4	1	2	1	4	2	5
Zamalek	4	1	1	2	2	5	4
Dynamos	4	1	0	3	3	5	3

GROUP B

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Coton Sport	4	2	1	1	3	3	7
Enyimba	4	2	0	2	6	6	6
Al Hilal	4	1	2	1	4	4	5
TP Mazembe	4	1	1	2	3	0	4

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