Flashback - St George's journey of 2017 CAF Champions League - Part 1
2018 CAF Champions League will start at the end of this week. St George will represent Ethiopia for the 4th time in a row who became the first Ethiopian club to enter the group staging in CAF Champions League. Hence, we would like to bring up last year's St George's CAF Champions League experience.
Preliminary - Cote Di'or Vs St George!
St George had its 2017 CAF Champions League preliminary match against the Seychelles champion of the time, Cote Di'or. On this first leg match, played in Seychelles, the Horsemen had an away victory by Salhadin Seid's 2 goals. On the 2nd leg match played at Hawassa stadium, many St George fans followed their team and had supported well to a 3-0 win.
St George started leading with Saladin Seid's 7th min goal, Aschalew Tamene's 32th min goal, and Adane Girma's 36th min goal by 3-0. But the game was interrupted at the 55th min due to a heavy rain to be continued on the next day and end unchanged 3-0. With cumulative result of 5-0, St George beat the Seychelles club to progress to the first round.
1st Round match - AC Leopards Vs St George!
St George had its 2017 CAF Champions League 1st round match against the Congo Brazzaville club AC Leopards travelling to the pointe Noire, a country side in Congo Brazzaville. This match was highly expected by St George fans.
The goal scorer, Mintesinot Adane delivered a message to the fans via Yeferesegnochu Gets /የፈረሰኞቹ ገጽ/
"Ac Leopards is a very tough team. We were able to get the point we wanted because we went into the game with much attention. Even our opponents were amazed with our determination. We used to see things impossible in our previous CAF Champions League matches. We used to undermine ourselves. Now we are stronger psychologically. In my assumption, our goal always is to enter the group staging. But I believe if we play hard, we can go far.
When you play for St George, you don't just think of wearing the jersey in a game. Many legends have played in it and you have to play to become one of them. And am very happy that I was able to score in the game. And thank God for all that happened.
Am still in disbelief that I saw a red card in the game. The game was interrupted for a foul and I went to speak with the referee. I asked him 'Is this a foul?' and he gave me a yellow without replying anything and I walked away. He then called me back and gave me a red card. He thought I had yellow card on me earlier. But my name was not on his list when he looked after I talked to him again. He said 'Leave the field; I can't do anything because I have already given a decision'.
This victory was achieved because our supporters came to our training and gave us their blessing, 'Let Ethiopia's God be with you'. And we thank them for that. What can I say about the 2nd leg match to the fans, our fans know what they are doing.''
The day the 2nd leg of this match came to be played at Addis Ababa stadium. The team that is on the verge of entering the Africa Champions' League group staging in the history of Ethiopian clubs, had continued its strong preparation. Coach Mart Nooij's collection went into the field to change history. St George fans conquered the whole stadium and started supporting its team. The stadium was filled with tension. It was decored with yellow-red-orange colors. It went crazy with songs.
The game was started. St George's rescue boy, Salhadin Seid, made St George 1-0 at the 15th min. The goal keeper was pushing the ball forward to cross to his team-mates far when Salhadin Seid run fast and blocked the ball in the direction of the net and run after it to make it a goal. The stadium breathed from the stress, burst with songs and cracked with support.
The Horsemen continued with their careful play, what they are known for. They started pressing with counter attacks. AC Leopards, despite reaching St George's half repeatedly, could not beat the defenders.
At the end of the match when the final whistle was expected, the Horsemen scored another goal. At the 90+2 min, when AC Leopards' players and goalkeeper went for a cross from a free kick, Salhadin Seid was standing at the center line. The cleared crossed ball reached Salhadin Seid's legs and he passed the only defender running towards him and started pushing the ball to the net alone.
It is difficult to put in words the fans' feeling who were in the stadium at the time. The stadium was rocked with a loud cheer. Salhadin pushes the ball all alone. Opponent players and the goalkeeper are following him behind. The emotional fans' uncontrollable shout was escorting Salhadin. Salhadin calmly hit the ball from the penalty box to score the 2nd goal easily. St George's win was declared. The Horsemen won with cumulative 3-0. History was made. St George hiked what was uphill for Ethiopian clubs. It rode up to stand on the top. St George became the first Ethiopian club to enter the group staging in the history of Africa Champions League
Salhadin Bargecho, one of the history makers, passed his message to fans via Yeferesegnochu Gets /የፈረሰኞቹ ገጽ/
''We passed the days before the match thinking how we can make this long awaited dream come true. We were waiting for Sunday fondly after our win from Congo. One week has never been this long for me in my life.
One thing was in my mind before the start of the match; how to become one of the players who made history in this club. There was something that made Yesterday's match different from the one in Congo. It was playing in front of our fans and created goal opportunities though we did not scored more. But we won the match. Words cannot express my happiness I had after the game.''
Our fans, I have never seen a precious fan like you in my life. You know well what your club needs, and we thank you for that"
To be Cont ....
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