Striker Baghdad Boundjah bid farewell on a high note scoring the only goal to power Etoile du Sahel to victory over Stade Malien of Mali in their Group A fixture on Friday night in Sousse.
The Algerian international, playing his last match for the ‘Diables Rouges’ ahead of his move to Qatari side, Al Sadd, headed home the match winner on 69 minutes to ensure the maximum points at the expense of a Stade Malien side, who gave the hosts so much to worry about.
The 23-year old’s contract expires on June 30, but opted against extending his stay at the Mediterranean resort city of Sousse, instead agreeing a move to the Qatar for a new adventure.
The Algerian international, playing his last match for the ‘Diables Rouges’ ahead of his move to Qatari side, Al Sadd, headed home the match winner on 69 minutes to ensure the maximum points at the expense of a Stade Malien side, who gave the hosts so much to worry about.
The 23-year old’s contract expires on June 30, but opted against extending his stay at the Mediterranean resort city of Sousse, instead agreeing a move to the Qatar for a new adventure.
But he made sure he bowed out on a high with a lasting impression in the minds of the Etoile supporters, scoring the winner in his final game for a club, he has grown to become their leading marksman since joining in 2013 from Algerian side, USM El Harrach.
Stade Malien, who played the final ten minutes with a man-less after Idrissa Traore was sent off had goalkeeper Djigui Diarra to thank for the narrow scoreline courtesy his superb saves.
Djigui, a member of the Mali U-20 team that won bronze at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand last week stood between the hosts and goal before succumbing on 69 minutes, when Boundjah headed home a cross by Guinea-born Alkhaly Bangoura for the only goal of the match.
The youngster made his presence felt as early as the sixth minute when he stretched his fullest to parry out Hamza Lahmar’s curling shot from a free-kick in what was the best chance of the opening half.
Four minutes past the hour mark, Djigui was yet again called to duty, denying Youssef Mouihbi with his feet following a blunder by Mamadou Doumbia, before palming away Ammar Jemal’s header from a corner four minutes later.
With the Stade Malien defence boiling, Bangoura let in a cross from the right which met the head of Boundjah for what turned out to be the strike that separated the two sides.
With ten minutes remaining, the visitors were dealt a major blow when Traore was sent for a foul on an Etoile player, but the hosts failed to make the numerical advantage count on the score cards.
Etoile, winners in 2006, temporarily rest at the summit of Group A with three points and Stade Malien at the bottom pointless. Holders Al Ahly of Egypt will battle Esperance of Tunisia in the other Group A match on Sunday in Suez.
Results
Group A
26/06/2015 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) 1-0 Stade Malien (Mali)
28/06/2015 Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Esperance (Tunisia)
Group B
27/06/2015 AC Leopards (Congo) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
27/06/2015 Zamalek (Egypt) vs CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
Stade Malien, who played the final ten minutes with a man-less after Idrissa Traore was sent off had goalkeeper Djigui Diarra to thank for the narrow scoreline courtesy his superb saves.
Djigui, a member of the Mali U-20 team that won bronze at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand last week stood between the hosts and goal before succumbing on 69 minutes, when Boundjah headed home a cross by Guinea-born Alkhaly Bangoura for the only goal of the match.
The youngster made his presence felt as early as the sixth minute when he stretched his fullest to parry out Hamza Lahmar’s curling shot from a free-kick in what was the best chance of the opening half.
Four minutes past the hour mark, Djigui was yet again called to duty, denying Youssef Mouihbi with his feet following a blunder by Mamadou Doumbia, before palming away Ammar Jemal’s header from a corner four minutes later.
With the Stade Malien defence boiling, Bangoura let in a cross from the right which met the head of Boundjah for what turned out to be the strike that separated the two sides.
With ten minutes remaining, the visitors were dealt a major blow when Traore was sent for a foul on an Etoile player, but the hosts failed to make the numerical advantage count on the score cards.
Etoile, winners in 2006, temporarily rest at the summit of Group A with three points and Stade Malien at the bottom pointless. Holders Al Ahly of Egypt will battle Esperance of Tunisia in the other Group A match on Sunday in Suez.
Results
Group A
26/06/2015 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) 1-0 Stade Malien (Mali)
28/06/2015 Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Esperance (Tunisia)
Group B
27/06/2015 AC Leopards (Congo) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
27/06/2015 Zamalek (Egypt) vs CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
By: Cafonline.com
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