Dreams sink Rivers in CAF Cup west African showdown
Veteran John Antwi scored as Dreams of Ghana got back into contention for a CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals place with a 2-1 Group C victory over Rivers United of Nigeria on Sunday.
He put the home team ahead after 35 minutes in Kumasi and Abdel Issah doubled the lead on 74 minutes in the matchday two west African derby.
An Alex Oyowah goal three minutes into added time was too little, too late as Rivers surrendered an unbeaten record this season in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
Antwi has scored three goals in the campaign -- one less than chart-topper Abdulmunem Aleiyan from Libyan club Abu Salim.
Club Africain of Tunisia, 3-1 away winners over bottom club Academica Lobito of Angola, top the table with six points, followed by Dreams and Rivers with three each.
Group winners and runners-up after six matchdays qualify for the quarter-finals of a competition won by USM Alger of Algeria last season.
USM maintained a perfect Group A record with a 2-0 away victory over SuperSport United of South Africa in Polokwane.
Clinical finishing in searing heat produced goals for Saadi Radouani five minutes into the first half and Braham Benzaza 11 minutes after half-time.
"We were very efficient, defended well and when we got scoring chances we took them," said Spain-born USM coach Jean Carlos Garrido.
"Playing away in Africa is always challenging, but we appreciated the excellent training facilities and pitch here."
SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt highlighted poor finishing after successive defeats for a club who were the 2017 runners-up.
"I am encouraged by the fact that we create scoring opportunities at home and in Africa. We must soldier on and hope for a change of fortunes," he said.
In the same section, Modern Future of Egypt overcame a red card to snatch a 2-1 win at Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya with Gambian Kajally Drammeh scoring the decisive goal in added time.
USM, the only Algerian club to lift the Confederation Cup, lead Future on goal difference with both having six points.
A few hours after SuperSport lost, South Africans had cause for celebration as Sekhukhune United came from behind to edge Diables Noirs of Congo Brazzaville 2-1 in the same Polokwane stadium.
Third-placed Sekhukhune are three points behind Group D pacesetters Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, who won 2-1 at Stade Malien of Mali thanks to a Paul Bassene brace.
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