RSB Berkane suffer first loss and surrender Group B lead

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Sunday Jul 29, 2018. 23:17

Morocco’s RSB suffered their first loss of the CAF Confederation cup and their lead at the top of Group B after going down 1-0 to Egypt’s Al Masry SC at the Port Said Stadium on Sunday night.

The Egyptian side controlled the flow of play in front of their home crowd and had the majority of the possession in the opening half, but they struggled to break the deadlock.

In the seventh minute Ahmed Gomaa came close to scoring when he met a pin-point cross into the box, but his header was brilliantly saved by the Berkane keeper.

Al Masry persisted and went close again in the 25th minute when a long range shot from Eslam Eisa shaved the wrong side of the woodwork.

Eisa was in the thick of the action again ten minutes later when he worked his way into the box before seeing his 16-yard shot well-saved by the Berkane keeper.

Neither side could break the deadlock before the break and entered the half time tunnel all-square.

Ten minutes into the second half the Egyptian side did take the lead thanks to a clinical finish from Eisa, 1-0.

Islam Salah almost doubled the home side’s lead on the hour mark when he met a good cross into the box, but his header was spectacularly saved by the keeper.

Berkane tried to find their way back into the game and threw players forward in the last half hour, but they could not penetrate Al Masry’s defence.

Following the victory Al Masry are now on eight points from four games and jumped above Berkane who are in second place on seven points.

Al Masry SC 0) 1 (Eisa 54’)

RSB Berkane (0) 0


Teams

Al Masry SC: Ahmed Masoud, Mostafa Shata, Koffi, Salah, Mostafa Ali Marcelo, Shoukri (Wadi 70’), Eze, Abdul-Latif Grindo, Jebrin (Moussa 90’), Esalm Eisa, Gomaa (Shawki 80’).

RSB Berkane: Mhamdi, Ennam Saoui, Dayo, Regragui, Azziz, El Kass (Essaiydy 66’), El Helali, Laachir (Mohamed 73’), El Mobaraky (Amaanan 79’), Naji, Fo-Doh Laba.