28.09.2014 19:20 h

Setif reach final despite loss to Mazembe

Algerians Entente Setif reached the CAF Champions League final for the first time since 1988 despite losing 3-2 Sunday at Congolese side TP Mazembe.

The semi-final ended in a 4-4 aggregate tie and the 'Black Eagles' advanced on away goals having won the first leg 2-1 at home last weekend.

Setif will tackle another Democratic Republic of Congo club, Vita, in the two-legged final.

Abdelmalik Ziaya, whose last-minute wonder goal won the first leg, gave Setif an early lead at Stade Mazembe in southern Congolese mining hub Lubumbashi

Four-time African champions Mazembe hit back through goals from Ghanaian Daniel Nii Adjei, Malian Salif Coulibaly and Congolese Jonathan Bolingi.

But substitute Sofiane Younes reduced arrears on 77 minutes as the weakness of veteran Mazembe goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba when dealing with crosses was exposed again.

The 'Ravens' needed a fourth goal to regain the aggregate advantage, but Setif held on to stay in contention for the $1.5 million (1.2 million euros) first prize.

Setif hammered Nigerians Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland) 4-1 overall to win the 1988 final while Vita won the competition in 1973 and were runners-up eight years later.

Vita triumphed 2-1 at Tunisians CS Sfaxien Saturday to advance 4-2 on aggregate having won by the same score in Kinshasa last weekend.

Zied Derbali put Sfaxien ahead, Burkinabe Issoufou Dayo levelled on the stroke of half-time and Ugandan Yunus Sentamu struck the 55th-minute match-winner.

Setif and Vita are the first clubs in the 50-year history of the competition to win semi-finals after taking 2-1 first-leg leads.

Seven attempts between 1971 and 2010 failed with the casualties including record eight-time African champions Al-Ahly of Egypt.

Vita host the first leg of the final between October 24-26 with the return match one week later.

Apart from the prize money, the African champions qualify for the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco.