Lilepo brace puts cotonsport’s knockout dream in coma

Makabi Lilepo scored twice as Al Hilal came from one goal down to defeat Cotonsport on game day 3 of the TotalEnergies CAF champions league.

Coach Florent Ibenge’s side started brightly and it nearly led to an early goal for the Sudanese giants.

CHAN star David Abagna struck the upright at the 9th minute of play. A nicely worked out corner kick between former Black Galaxies’ Imoro and Abagna, led to the latter hitting the post guarded by Saliou at the 9th minute of play.

Cotonsport grew as the game went on and 18-year-old Wassou pulled out a routine save from goalkeeper Abdalla Aboeshren at the 18th minute.

Daman Abdouraman and Wassou kept providing options upfront. Minutes after Wassou made an unwitty choice go for a pass with the keeper off his line rather than shoot, Daman drew anothrr stop from Aboeshren.

The noise at the Roumde Adjia stadium became deafening after Abdouraman’s looping header at the 33rd minute nearly caught goalkeeper Aboeshren off guard, but for his fingertips.

Cotonsport increased the tempo of the game and three minutes before the pose, it was the combination of that fearsome front two of Djawal and Wassou that gifted Cotonsport the lead.

Djawal slotted for Wassou who blasted pass the outstretched arm of Aboeshren, in a complete carbon copy of the goal scored against Sundowns.

After the break, Hilal came back out guns blazing.

At the 52nd minute, Lilepo dared his trademark free kick that landed Hilal maximum points against Ahly, and for the second consecutive time, he hit the ball immaculately into the far post.

The lead was doubled 5 minutes later. From a simple throw in, the Congolese spotted the keeper off his line at hindsight and volleyed home his second from the ‘D’ at the 55th minute.

Hilal returned to a default defensive mode while hitting Cotonsport on the counter as the game went on to end 2-1 in their favour.

Al Hilal move level on points with Sundowns while awaiting the clash pitting Mamelodi Sundowns (6 points) against Al Ahly who are yet to register points with a game in hand.