Etoile du Sahel struggling in Champions League - August 19,2009

Etoile du Sahel are in a precarious position in the African Champions League after being drubbed 3-0 by Heartland in Owerri on Sunday.

The Nigerian runners-up, who have now won successive matches in Group B after a loss to TP Mazembe in July, opened the scoring on the half-hour through Ikechukwu Ibenegbu. Joshua Obaje and Okey Nwabike also scored for Heartland, who have six points from three matches.

Mazembe, meanwhile, drubbed Zimbabwean minnows Monomotapa United 5-0 in Lubumbashi to move to the head of the group. Dioko Kaliyutuka scored a hat-trick for the Congolese side, bringing his tournament total to four, and Tresor Mputu and Kabangu Mulota bagged goals as well. With seven goals, Mputu is joint top-scorer in the competition.

Mazemba have six points from three matches, but lead Heartland on goal-differential. Sahal are in third spot with three points and lead Monomotapa by three goals on goal-differential.

In Group A, Al-Hilal moved clear atop the table after beating Kano Pillars 2-0 in Omdurman. Muhannad Eltahir scored his fifth goal of the Champions League for the Sudanese club when he converted a penalty on 55 minutes. Hamouda Ahmed Elbasheer doubled the scoreline 13 minutes later. Al-Hilal’s seven points leave them three points clear of second-place Pillars.

The bracket’s other match saw ZESCO United register the only away-win of the matchday when they edged Al-Merreikh 3-2 in Omdurman on Saturday. Josas Sakuwaha scored all three goals for the Zambian champions, and all within the first 34 minutes. Endurance Idahor scored from the spot in the 29th minute to pull the hosts to within a goal, but by the time Karim Eddafi had scored for the Sudanese champions in the 77th minute, ZESCO were two goals ahead.

With the win, ZESCO are level with Pillars on four points and three points ahead of last-place Al-Merreikh.

Matchday four will be played August 29-30. ZESCO will host Al-Merreikh and Al-Hilal will visit Pillars in Group One, while Monomotapa will travel to Mazembe and Sahal will host Heartland in Group Two.

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