ALGIERS--Egypt's Al Ahly were beaten 1-0 by JS Kabylieof Algeria in their African Champions League Group B clash in Tizi-Ouzou on Sunday night. Defender Mohamed Khoutir-Ziti scored the sole goal of the game for the home side in the 24th minute. Ahly, the title-holders of the Egyptian Premier League, thought they had equalised with four minutes to go, but their effort was correctly ruled out for offside. However, the Ahly players were incensed and a brawl inside between them and stadium security staff that saw the game halted for eight minutes. It was a sour end to the game but just the latest in a series of embarrassing incidents between the two countries on the football field. Kabylie are almost certain of a semifinal spot with a full haul of nine points so far, while Ahly have four. Meanwhile, Nigeria's Heartland will rue a goalkeeping blunder for their 1-0 loss to hosts Ismaily of Egypt in their Group B clash on Sunday. Nigeria-born striker Ndubuisi Eze scored what proved to be the match winner after 15 minutes when the bounce on a long ball beat goalkeeper Austin Brown outside his box and the former Julius Berger striker coolly stabbed home. The home team controlled the game for most part, but Heartland too tried to attack in search of an equalising goal particularly after the interval when they played with more urgency and had several shots on target. There were chances at both ends of the pitch within the first five minutes with new signing Emeka Nwachi's powerful header missing target narrowly after Ismaily's first attack had forced a save from goalkeeper Austin brown. Chibuzor Uzurumba, one of three new signings who started this match, had a chance to draw the Nigerians level at the 40th minute but his left-footed shot from the top of the box skimmed off the crossbar. Nwachi again threatened at the 57th minute when he sneaked behind the Ismaily defence, but his header off a Bello Kofarmata cross did not bother Mohamed Sobhi in goal for the 'Brazilians' of Egypt. The introduction of veteran striker Emeka Nwanna in place of Nwachi late in the second period added some bite to the strike force of the 'Naze Millionaires', but in the end, Heartland remained winless after three rounds of matches. This was Heartland's second loss of the group phase and they now languish at the bottom of the standings with a solitary point after three matches, while Ismaily leapfrogged over them to move into third place on three points.
