The quarter-final qualification business of Group D in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League has been concluded with two matches left as Angolan side Petro de Luanda and Morocco’s Wydad Club Athletic booked their places in the last eight.
Petro stormed top of the group after beating Angolan rivals G.D. Sagrada Esperança 3-0 in Luanda to move top with 10 points.
Wydad drop to second and after their 1-0 victory over Egyptian giants Zamalek on Friday, they have also progressed with nine points. This means that third placed Zamalek who are on two points from four matches have been eliminated and will only play the last two games for pride.
Esperança are bottom of the pile with just one point collected from their home draw with Zamalek and are also out.
Heading into match day four, Esperança were in a must win situation to keep their hopes alive, but instead, Petro completed a home and away sweep to move top of the log.
Petro got into the lead just 16 seconds into the match when skipper Tiago Azulao volleyed the ball home from inside the box after picking up a cross from Gleison on the right.
It was a perfect start for Petro who have been brilliant throughout the group phases.
They continued dominating the match and they had to wait until the last minute of the opening half when Azulao added his second of the afternoon, sliding in to poke the ball home after the keeper had spilled a shot from distance.
In the second half they continued their dominance and they almost made it 2-0 when Celso had a shot come off the woodwork after controlling a cross from Carlinhos inside the box.
They however got the third goal at the death off the penalty spot after a foul inside the box. Erico Castro stepped up and expertly put the ball into the net for a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Frederick Marfo is a sportswriter and social worker well known for his advocacy for equal chances and rights for all athletes, especially those with disabilities.
Discussion about this post