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South African Lakay Scores Pyramids' Winner in Egypt

A general view shows Tahrir Square following the coronavirus outbreak in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view shows Tahrir Square following the coronavirus outbreak in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
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South African Lakay Scores Pyramids' Winner in Egypt

A general view shows Tahrir Square following the coronavirus outbreak in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view shows Tahrir Square following the coronavirus outbreak in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)

South African Fagrie Lakay scored to give Pyramids of Egypt a 1-0 win over TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday in the first 2024 CAF Champions League group match.

When the ball was crossed from the right wing on 54 minutes, Fiston Mayele chested it back to Lakay, who unleashed a low shot that flew past goalkeeper Alioune Faty into the corner.

Senegalese Faty was deputizing for injured first choice Baggio Siadi, and Mazembe defender Kevin Mondeko was also ruled out of the Group A clash in Cairo.

Pyramids, who have lived in the shadows of more successful and popular Cairo neighbours Al Ahly and Zamalek for many seasons, are playing in the elite African competition for the first time.

Mazembe, five times winners of the Champions League, were returning to group action after being eliminated at the qualifying stage in the past two seasons.

The other Group A fixture between Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Nouadhibou of Mauritania, originally scheduled for Friday in Pretoria, has been moved to Sunday, AFP reported.

Sundowns, recent winners of the inaugural African Football League, are expected to win the group with Pyramids and Mazembe fighting to finish second and also qualify for the knockout phase.

Later on Friday, Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria, quarter-finalists in the past three editions of the Champions League, defeated Young Africans of Tanzania 3-0 in Algiers.

Abdelraouf Benguit and Abderrahmane Meziane netted in the first half of the Group D encounter and Gambian substitute Lamin Jallow completed the scoring in added time.

While the result was anticipated, the wide winning margin was not as Young Africans impressed when reaching the final of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup last season.

Title-holders and record 11-time Champions League winners Al Ahly host group debutants Medeama of Ghana on Saturday in the same section.

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Argentina Beats Peru to Close in on World Cup Spot; Brazil and Uruguay Draw

Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Peru - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - November 19, 2024 Argentina's Lautaro Martinez reacts REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle
Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Peru - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - November 19, 2024 Argentina's Lautaro Martinez reacts REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle
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Argentina Beats Peru to Close in on World Cup Spot; Brazil and Uruguay Draw

Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Peru - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - November 19, 2024 Argentina's Lautaro Martinez reacts REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle
Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Peru - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - November 19, 2024 Argentina's Lautaro Martinez reacts REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle

Lautaro Martínez's goal gave Argentina a 1-0 win over Peru on Tuesday in a South American qualifying match in Buenos Aires and left the hosts close to a spot in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, The Associated Press reported.
Its main continental rivals Brazil drew 1-1 against Uruguay in Salvador, Brazil with two impressive goals in an otherwise lackluster match. Federico Valverde gave Uruguay the lead with a curled shot from the edge of the box, and Gerson netted his first for Brazil in similar fashion at the Arena Fonte Nova.
Argentina leads South American qualifying with 25 points from 12 matches, five points clear of its closest competitor, Uruguay. Ecuador and Colombia are next with 19 points each.
Brazil lags in fifth position with 18 points after several uninspiring performances, still hoping that striker Neymar will return from injury and fit in again. Paraguay, with 17 points, is in sixth place.
South American qualifying will give six direct berths in the next World Cup. Seventh-place Bolivia, with 13 points, is in the international playoff position. Venezuela (12), Chile (9), and Peru (7) are out of qualifying spots.
The next round of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in March.
Uninspiring Argentina Martínez's goal was his 32nd for the national team, which puts him level with the legendary Diego Maradona.
Until Martínez scored, Argentina's best chance was in the 21st minute, when striker Julián Alvarez hit the Peruvian goalkeeper's right post. Messi once again had a modest performance, as he did in his team's 2-1 defeat at Paraguay on Thursday.
Messi crossed the ball in the penalty area in the 55th minute to give Martínez one of the few clear opportunities of the match. The striker moved his body with more grace than power to put the ball in the back of the next.
Despite the disappointing performance at home, Lionel Messi's team will finish the year with few question marks beyond its performances in November.
“We won Copa America, we lead South American World Cup qualifying,” said goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. “We must be proud of ourselves.”
Jeers for Brazil Brazil fans at home in Salvador jeered their team after the final whistle. In a match with few opportunities for either side, Uruguay seemed closer to winning for most of the second half.
Valverde opened the scoring in the 55th minute after Brazilian defenders failed three times to clear the ball from their penalty area. The Real Madrid midfielder hit the ball to the left corner to score. Gerson equalized in the 61st minute.
Striker Raphinha said he understood the frustration from his team's fans, but disagreed with them.
“We played great. We did everything we could to leave here with a victory. We must have our heads high up, it will be very tough to beat us,” he said.
Also on Tuesday, Ecuador won 1-0 at Colombia with a goal by Enner Valencia in the seventh minute, in which he dribbled through three players before scoring. Ecuador lost defender Piero Hincapié to a red card in the 34th minute but held on for the win.
Bolivia and Paraguay drew 2-2 in a match between teams that could end up fighting for the seventh position in the region's qualifying. Chile, one of the worst performing teams in the region this year, showed some fighting spirit and beat Venezuela 4-2.