Betorangal scorcher rockets Bejaia into Confed Cup semis

A BRILLIANT goal by Franceborn Morgan Betorangal gave Mouloudia Bejaia of Algeria a 1-0 victory over Medeama of Ghana on Tuesday and a CAF Confederation Cup semifinal place.

The defender-cum-midfielder gained possession just inside the Medeama half, moved forward unchallenged and unleashed a drive that flew over the goalkeeper and into the net on 52 minutes.

Bejaia and Medeama shared second place in Group A with eight points each and zero goal differences and the Algerians qualified on the head-to-head rule having drawn 0-0 in Ghana two months ago.

Betorangal’s match winner was only his club’s second goal in six group matches, the lowest total by a team reaching the last four of the second-tier African club competition.

Bejaia meet FUS Rabat of Morocco and defending champs Etoile Sahel of Tunisia play TP Mazembe of the DR Congo in next month’s semifinals.

FUS, shock winners of the 2010 Confederation Cup, won Group B by one point from twotime holders Etoile after the clubs drew 0-0 in Rabat.

Group A winners Mazembe finished with a 3-1 triumph over bottom club Young Africans of Tanzania in Lubumbashi. Jonathan Bolingi put the hosts ahead and Zambian Rainford Kalaba added two secondhalf goals from close range.

Amissi Tambwe fired in a free-kick for the visitors 15 minutes from time. –