Egyptian side Ismaily were eliminated from the CAF Champions League on Friday after drawing 1-1 at home to TP Mazembe.
The Group C match played in Alexandria was a thriller with both the Mango Boys and the Ravens throwing numbers forward in an end-to-end clash.
Ismaily started with attacking intent and created several early chances, but they were unable to capitalize on them.
There were early warning signs for Mazembe as Arnese Zola rose, completely unmarked, headed a corner kick wide of goal.
Ten minutes later, Mputu Mabi was forced to fly across goal as Godet Masengo curled his free-kick around the wall and onto the target.
The home side eventually began to find their feet. Tare Taha received a cross in the box, firing towards goal on the turn only to see his shot deflected behind for a corner.
Not long afterward, Taha picked up Onoride Odah’s square ball but Kabaso Chongo threw his body in front of the effort to deny the Nigerian international.
The period around the 30-minute mark was Mazembe’ best spell and Meschack Elia fancied his chances from range but saw his fierce shot drift wide of goal.
The hosts were then punished in the 40th minute, with Elai getting on the end of a cross from Muleka before sending a shot between the leg of goalkeeper Mohamed Fawzy.
Ismaily regained their earlier momentum as the half neared its end and Magdy displayed great technique to unleash a shot from 30 yards that grazed the top of the net.
Immediately after the restart, Ismaily had another great chance as Odah’s stinging corner was met by Taha who couldn’t head towards goal with enough conviction.
The Egyptians then leveled the matter in the 55th minute with Abdelrahman Magdy beating goalkeeper Ibrahim Mounkoro with a fine effort to draw level at 1-1.
Mazembe then almost forced an own goal with just under a quarter hour of regulation time remaining, as Ibrahim Hakim inadvertently directed a low cross toward his own net, but Fawzy was on hand to make the save.
Ismaily pushed for a winner in the remainder of the match – including over three minutes of injury time – but they were unable to find another way through the Ravens side’s defense.
The Teams
Ismaily: Fawzy, Ayman, Baffour, Mohamady, Taha (Ibrahim 46’), Eldarf (Dunga 68’), Hamdy, Magdy, Khaleq (Shilongo 56’), Hakim, Marshal
Mazembe: Mounkoro, Masengo, Chongo, Mondeko, Zola, Koffi, Mika (Likonza 71’), Elia, Mputu (Malango 85’), Kalaba (Ushindi 65’), Muleka
