By Sulayman Bah
Real de Banjul over the weekend gave ES Setif a taste of their sting
after playing out a one-all draw with the Algerian side.
Hosted at the Brikama Boxbar mini-stadium before hundreds of fans, the hosts delivered a master class shocker to the visiting African clubchampions and Super Cup winners, courtesy of an impressive playing
style and a went spent opening goal.
The usual nervousness in first five minutes was manifested at the start of
the duel, but the Gambian champions soon gained their ball passing
rhythm with midfielder Alagie Bah being the unmistakable architect.
The first warning sign didn’t come until after eleven minutes when an
apparently unmarked Ablie Jallow found space from near the box with
the resultant unleashed screamer rattling on the top corner.
Real de Banjul cut a domineering side and the score before break would
have been enough of a humiliation for the visitors when the All-Whites
made most of their flood of near-goal opportunities.
Skill-struck Famara Jarju was at his best taunting the Algerian
defense on the left but a front-line deprived of Madi Fatty replaced
by Yankuba Jarju merely spurned the floodgate of chances.
A relaxed Setif showed a flash of their potency, breaking on the
counters as a teasing curled effort was denied by goalkeeper Alagie
Nyabally.
Resumption of play had seen Real de Banjul racing in the lead courtesy
of Ablie Jallow. Famara, in one of his many trips, dashed down the
left to send in a cross.
Yankuba Jarju chested down for a well positioned Ablie Jallow who
perfectly boomerang it to the back of the net. This lead renewed the
hopes of Gambian fans which encouraged the capital-based club outfit.
However, as soon as they scored Real disappointingly switched to the
back foot allowing the visitors to charge on. It was such gaffe that
proved their undoing as Setif found themselves leveled thanks to a
Soufian’s tap from inside the Gambia half.
Real de Banjul now travels to Algiers for the second-leg of the first
round qualifier.]]>
