02.05.2015 12:29 h

Goalkeeper Khedairia saves African champions

Sofiane Khedairia saved two Raja Casablanca penalty shootout kicks as title-holders Entente Setif squeezed into the CAF Champions League group stage this weekend.

The Algerians defeated the Moroccans 4-1 on penalties after the second leg in Setif finished 2-2, leaving the North African club football giants tied at 4-4 on aggregate.

A dramatic last-16 second leg produced a spectacular goal, delays when flares were flung on the pitch and when rivals scuffled, and a stoppage-time Raja equaliser.

Goals early in each half from El Hedi Belameiri and captain Mourad Delhoum earned Setif a two-goal advantage at a vibrant Stade 8 Mai in north-east Algeria.

Abdelilah Hafidi halved the deficit and Adil Karrouchy levelled off a rebound on 95 minutes after his penalty had been parried.

Recalled Khedairia, who was axed from a round-of-32 tie after refusing to travel to the Gambia, then became the hero of Setif.

While Setif clinically converted four shootout penalties in a row, the France-born goalkeeper saved the first two Raja attempts to earn his club a memorable triumph.

Algeria are hoping to have a record three clubs in the group stage of the elite African club competition this season.

On Sunday, USM Alger and Mouloudia El Eulma defend one-goal advantages away to Guineans Kaloum and Tunisians CS Sfaxien respectively.

Belameiri scored from close range at the second attempt on seven minutes and unmarked Delhoum nodded in a cross three minutes after half-time.

The goal of the match came on 57 minutes as Hafidi netted with a bicycle kick after a lob came back into play off the top of the crossbar.

Karrouchy saw his late spot-kick blocked, but rifled the rebound into the corner of the net to force the shootout.

Two-time African champions Setif discover their three group opponents Tuesday when the draw is made in Cairo.

Raja are demoted to the CAF Confederation Cup and the eight play-off pairings will be made the same day.