A goal in each half by Deogratius Mafie and Atupele Green ensured Biashara United Mara claimed the advantage in their CAF Confederation Cup first round tie when they beat Algeria’s Al Ahly Tripoli 2-0 on Friday afternoon at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam.
The visitors made a promising start to the encounter and forced a save from James Ssetuba in the third minute as Bader Ahmed put an effort on target from close range.
Biashara took control of the tie as the first half wore on but the Al Ahly defence remained organised and kept the scoreline level.
Towards the end of the half the Tanzanian’s took the lead when Mafie unleashed a powerful 20-yard strike which found the bottom corner of the net, 1-0.
Al Ahly almost hit back five minutes later from a 24-yard free-kick, but Mnsour Makkari saw his set-piece superbly saved by Ssetuba.
The Algerians could not pull a goal back before the break with Biashara leading 1-0.
Mafie should really have doubled Biashara’ lead in the 49th minute when a low cross from the right found him completely unmarked inside the box, but he fluffed his shot inches wide from only eight-yards out.
In the 62nd minute the Tanzanians did find their second goal when David Kameta played Atupele Green into space 16-yards out and the he duly fired home from an acute angle on the left, 2-0.
Biashara came within inches of netting a third for Peter Odhiambo’s charges in the last 10 minutes, curling a shot just wide of the Al Ahly goal.
The Algerians almost pulled one back in the 84th minute but James Setuba made a great save as Biashara managed to hold on to their lead and bagged the victory, which is an advantage going to Tripoli next weekend for the second leg.
