Rayon Sport out of Confederation Cup

Sunday Rayon 0-0 El Merreikh Rayon lose on a 0-3 goal aggregate

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Sunday

Rayon 0-0 El Merreikh

Rayon lose on a 0-3 goal aggregate

Rayon Sport was knocked out of the African Confederation Cup yesterday after a goalless draw against El Merreikh at Nyamirambo stadium.

El Merreikh cruised to the group stage of this year’s Confederation Cup on a 3-0 goal aggregate earned in the first leg played a fortnight ago in Khartoum.

Both sides failed to capitalize on the few scoring opportunities but it was the Blues who wasted several chances that would in a last case scenario made a change in the goal difference.

The Blues striking force led by team captain Jean Lomami and Jimmy Gatete failed to find the net.

Few chances were created in the first half with the visiting side missing out on a Jimmy Natali header.

Despite El Merreikh playing a defensive game throughout the second half, Rayon Sport failed to even score one goal as Tuyisenge hit a crossbar on the 65th minute after a one-two with Gatete.

Cyril Pizzolera who came in for Lomami had an opportunity cancelled on by Merreikh custodian on the 83rd minute.

Rayon’s last continental show came in 2006 when the club was ejected in the second round by Egypt’s Al Ittihad Al-Iskandary by a 3-1 goal aggregate. The Blues had earlier seen off Ethiopia’s Awassa City by a 4-0 goal aggregate.

Last year, Rayon sports missed out after finishing third in the Primus national football league giving chance to Atraco to make their maiden appearance in the continental championship.

Elsewhere, Young Africans of Tanzania were knocked out of the Confederation Cup on Saturday after losing 1-0 at home to the little-known Libyan side Al-Akhdar.

Al-Akhdar advance to the third round of the competition on a 2-1 aggregate.

The Libyan played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Tripoli but they held on for the victory in Dar-es-Salaam.

On Friday, holders CS Sfaxien squeezed into the third round after a 1-1 draw in the second leg against Algeria’s JSM Bejaia.

The Tunisian side advanced on a 2-1 aggregate after the away draw.

JSM Bejaia took the lead after three minutes when striker Braham Chaouch made the most of a defensive mix-up in the visitor’s rear guard.

Ends