ast-gasp goal by Hilal denied Ahli Tripoli, at the time playing with only 10 men, the chance to take over the top placing in the Libyan football league when they held them to a 1-1 draw. As it turned out, Ahli could only a share of the spoils, one point that keeps them a point of joint leaders Ahli Benghazi and Tersanah.
Hilal v Ahli Tripoli 1-1
Yassine Fraoui’s 93rd minute strike denied Ahli Tripoli what would have been an excellent victory on the road, and kept Hilal’s unbeaten start to the season intact, as they lost their captain Tarek al Taieb to a silly dismissal late in the second half.
Hilal had won the previous encounter between the two, coming out 1-0 victors in Tripoli last December. But the air of optimism sweeping through the dressing room of the 10-time winners has swept all before them as they plotted a rise to the top of the table.
It seemed their run of form would continue when veteran forward Nader Kara, marking his return from injury, stole in to give Ahli the lead with just under a quarter of an hour to go.
However, a silly tackle from the experienced al Taieb left Muhammad al Shelmani with no choice and he red-carded the temperamental genius.
The home fans were fired up by the sending off and Hilal found another gear, earning themselves an equaliser three minutes into injury time when the Tunisian Fraoui finished off a slick move involving Faisal al Badri and Ghassan al Maqini.
Ahli remain third, though a victory would have put them one point clear at the top. Hilal are sitting pretty in fifth, but they’ll need to start converting some of those draws into wins to stay in that position.
Wahda v Khaleej Sirt 4-3
Wahda extended their unbeaten run to four matches as they disposed of a weak Khaleej Sirt side, who mounted a brave late fightback. Wahda won 4-3.
The home side, fresh off the back of an important away win at Najma, started quickly, as they always do at home, and were awarded a penalty after nine minutes; Ivorian Mamado Bamba converted to put Unity in front.
Mou’tasem Abou Shnaaf has impressed this season, his strength and presence causing problems for all defences this season, and he bulldozed his way through before beating Saif Eddine al Waa’er for a second on the half hour.
Tunisian striker Rouane Ben Halima put the game beyond any doubt when he got a third goal six minutes into the second half.
It was certainly surprising to see a Khaleej side, who matched Ahli for so long last Friday, capitulate here. They did get a goal back on the hour, club legend Cheick Sedaolai getting his third goal of the season.
But before the seeds of doubt could be planted in the Wahda players’ minds, they poured forward again and grabbed a fourth, Wajdi Bahroun heading home from a corner to secure the three points.
A late brace from Husaam al Janafi could not prevent a third defeat in four matches for the club on the coast, and they slip to 13th, the relegation playoff position.
Shat v Swaihili 1-1
A goal from Mu’aad al Shteawi earned Shat their first point of the season as they battled to a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Swaihili
The away side got a 98th minute equaliser at Hilal last week, and Muhammad al Jadeedi opened the scoring from the spot again in this game, though this time with just a minute played at GMR Stadium.
Shat have been dire so far this season, al Jadeedi’s penalty is the 13th time they have conceded without reply. However, they slowly got back into the game, pressing the Misratah outfit.
The Canaries took that momentum into the second half, and eventually levelled on the hour when Al Shteawi stabbed home from a cross.
No more than the hosts deserved, and they escaped periods of intense late pressure to gain their first point and first goal of the season. Swaihili are still looking for their first win, though just one defeat from five matches indicates they can’t be too far away from that.
Darnes v Najma 2-1
Two late goals from Darnes meant they got off the mark with a vital 2-1 victory over rivals Najma at Darnes Stadium.
Najma are known for having a stingy defence, but their backline was exposed twice in the last eight minutes as Darnes knocked in two goals in quick succession to shoot them up to 10th in the table.
Hussein al Abdyadh opened the scoring for the Benghazi side in the 68th minute, the visitors’ second goal all season.
But Darnes, always well backed by the local faithful, levelled on 82 minutes, Khalifa Abu Khatwah cracking home a drive from long range. And the home fans, smelling blood, had more to cheer when Adem al Mansouri knocked in just a minute later.
The Gold and Blacks held on for the win and condemned Najma to a third straight defeat. The Blues are only off the bottom by goal difference.
{Tripolipost.com} |
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