Simba aware of Port Said toll
SIMBA’s Head Coach Pierre Lechantre is aware of the heavy burden the team shoulder in the CAF Confederation Cup away fixture to Egyptians Al Masry, after failing to take advantage of their home ground on Wednesday.
The Msimbazi Reds were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Masry in the first round, first leg encounter at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Simba will travel to Port Said next week and will be required to snatch an away win against the Boss of Canal to progress into the next round of the continental second tier club championship.
A draw of more than two goals will also work in favour of Simba. Prior to the match, the Frenchman claimed that they needed to get good results at home because they will be going to face a heavy challenge away against Al Masry.
He said all they wanted was to win at home something which would have helped them in the return leg tie, but Simba have had themselves to blame for showing a below par performance in the first 45 opening minutes that gave the visitors chance to snatch two crucial away goals.
“I know Al Masry, they are a very good team when they play at home,” said Lechantre. It was a closely fought encounter as Simba recovered in the second half and put up a spirited performance. In the match handled by South African FIFA Referee, Thando Helpus, there were three penalties, all converted.
Two of the scored penalties belonged to the hosts Simba and were netted by team captains -John Bocco and his predecessor Emmanuel Okwi. The match stopped in 80th minute because of power outage, then followed by heavy rains.
The officials took the players out of the pitch in order to assess the situation before the game continued after 30 minutes. Al Masry opened the game in style and were dominant in terms of possession.
Mohammed Emam tested goalkeeper Aishi Manula from an acute angle for a corner two minutes into the game. Three minutes later, Okwi teased, twisted and turned Al Masry left back Mahamed Mahmoud, but his delivered cross was well dealt with.
Then Al Masry’s experienced defender Mohamed Koffi touched the ball with his hand inside the area, gifting the hosts a penalty converted by Bocco. Masry’s talented striker, Mohammed Gomaa levelled the score two minutes later with a nice volley after meeting a pinpoint cross from winger Mohamed Shatta.
The Egyptian representatives were awarded a controversial penalty in the 26th minute converted by Ahmed Shoukry. After their second goal, Masry controlled the game, preventing the hosts from posing a real threat.
The only threat came on the 70th minute when Okwi sent a powerful shot from the left flank, but his effort was denied by the bar. Okwi converted a penalty five minutes later to level the score. With the last quarter of the game, the heavens set loose. The Egyptians, in a bid to slow the tempo of the game resorted to time wasting antics, but Simba remained focused for a killer.
With eight minutes left on the clock, the drizzle turned into a serious downpour. Coupled with darkness that clouded the entire stadium, the players and match officials returned to the dressing rooms until the power was restored.
Still under the rain, play re-started for the final ten minutes but bore no fruits in terms of goal dividends. By this time, a large section of fans had been displaced by the harsh weather. The second leg will take place in Port Said in 10 days.
The Msimbazi Reds were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Masry in the first round, first leg encounter at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Simba will travel to Port Said next week and will be required to snatch an away win against the Boss of Canal to progress into the next round of the continental second tier club championship.
A draw of more than two goals will also work in favour of Simba. Prior to the match, the Frenchman claimed that they needed to get good results at home because they will be going to face a heavy challenge away against Al Masry.
He said all they wanted was to win at home something which would have helped them in the return leg tie, but Simba have had themselves to blame for showing a below par performance in the first 45 opening minutes that gave the visitors chance to snatch two crucial away goals.
“I know Al Masry, they are a very good team when they play at home,” said Lechantre. It was a closely fought encounter as Simba recovered in the second half and put up a spirited performance. In the match handled by South African FIFA Referee, Thando Helpus, there were three penalties, all converted.
Two of the scored penalties belonged to the hosts Simba and were netted by team captains -John Bocco and his predecessor Emmanuel Okwi. The match stopped in 80th minute because of power outage, then followed by heavy rains.
The officials took the players out of the pitch in order to assess the situation before the game continued after 30 minutes. Al Masry opened the game in style and were dominant in terms of possession.
Mohammed Emam tested goalkeeper Aishi Manula from an acute angle for a corner two minutes into the game. Three minutes later, Okwi teased, twisted and turned Al Masry left back Mahamed Mahmoud, but his delivered cross was well dealt with.
Then Al Masry’s experienced defender Mohamed Koffi touched the ball with his hand inside the area, gifting the hosts a penalty converted by Bocco. Masry’s talented striker, Mohammed Gomaa levelled the score two minutes later with a nice volley after meeting a pinpoint cross from winger Mohamed Shatta.
The Egyptian representatives were awarded a controversial penalty in the 26th minute converted by Ahmed Shoukry. After their second goal, Masry controlled the game, preventing the hosts from posing a real threat.
The only threat came on the 70th minute when Okwi sent a powerful shot from the left flank, but his effort was denied by the bar. Okwi converted a penalty five minutes later to level the score. With the last quarter of the game, the heavens set loose. The Egyptians, in a bid to slow the tempo of the game resorted to time wasting antics, but Simba remained focused for a killer.
With eight minutes left on the clock, the drizzle turned into a serious downpour. Coupled with darkness that clouded the entire stadium, the players and match officials returned to the dressing rooms until the power was restored.
Still under the rain, play re-started for the final ten minutes but bore no fruits in terms of goal dividends. By this time, a large section of fans had been displaced by the harsh weather. The second leg will take place in Port Said in 10 days.
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