Mayele turns creator as African champions Pyramids win

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - CAF Champions League title-holders Pyramids of Egypt ground out a 1-0 win at Power Dynamos of Zambia on Saturday to retain a perfect Group A record after two rounds.

Prolific scorer Mahmoud Mayele turned creator after 51 minutes, setting up Mohamed Reda to score with a delicate lob over goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga.

Congolese Mayele scored nine goals in the last Champions League season, a key factor as the Cairo club won the premier African club competition at only the second attempt.

Now they are hoping to win back-to-back titles and emulate Al Ahly of Egypt, Enyimba of Nigeria, Esperance of Tunisia and TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Pyramids lost captain and goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy late in the first half after he injured a knee blocking a goal attempt by Ghanaian Daniel Adoko. Mahmoud Gad took his place.

The defending champions trail Renaissance Berkane of Morocco on goals scored as both have six points after two matchdays.

They will face each other twice in January after the Africa Cup of Nations

Youness El Kaabi and Mounir Chouiar scored deep in added time on Friday to give Berkane a dramatic 2-1 victory at Rivers United of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, a five-match winning streak by Angolan outfit Petro Luanda in qualifying and group matches ended when visitors Esperance snatched a late 1-1 Group D draw.

Petro conceded for the first time in Africa this season when Malian Aboubacar Diakite struck on 89 minutes for his third goal of the Champions League campaign.

Brazilian Tiago Reis had put the home side ahead on 49 minutes with his fifth goal this season, which put him top of the Champions League scorers' list.

Stade Malien of Mali host pointless Simba of Tanzania on Sunday and a win for the Bamako outfit will bring them level with Petro on four points. Four-time champions Esperance have two.