Masud extends hot-streak as Olunga's Duhail falter in Club World Cup
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 05.02.21. | 11:30
Kenyan international Masud Juma bagged his second successive goal for Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi while Michael Olunga struggled in his FIFA World Cup debut.
Kenyan international Masud Juma has hit the ground running for Moroccan side for Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi as he netted for the second successive game while Michael Olunga had an colorless game in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Masud hot-streak
Masud followed up his goal against Wydad Athletic Club a week ago by netting his second in two games for Difaâ with the latest casualty being Club Athletic Youssoufia Berrechid on Thursday.
Difaâ has currently been playing friendly matches with teams plying their trade in the Moroccan Botola Pro after their league was halted in late December and is yet to resume.
Masud made his debut against record league champions Wydad and starred in the match as he scored in the game and won a penalty that ensured the match ended 2-2.
The former Kariobangi Sharks forward made the switch from Algerian side Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie in mid January to Difaa after struggling for game time.
Difaa are currently battling relegation in the Moroccan top flight sitting second from last having registered two points from five games and are currently winless.
Olunga struggles
Elsewhere Japanese MVP Michael Olunga had a challenging debut in the FIFA Club World Cup tourney after lasting only 45 minutes in Al Duhail’s 1-0 loss to African champions Al Ahly Cairo at the second-round hurdle.
Olunga was deprived of service upfront as they struggled to string 10 complete passes in the first half and conceded a cheap goal at the stroke of the half-hour mark when Hussein El Shahat’s zinger from outside the box found the back of the net after Duhail’s Bassam Hisham was pickpocketed of the ball.
Coach Sabri Lamouchi rang the changes at half time with Olunga rested for Mohammed Muntari as Duhail aimed to salvage something from their maiden appearance in the intercontinental tournament.
Lamouchi blamed the loss on his side's inexperience in the tournament as Duhail had a nightmare first half failing to test Mohamed El Shenawy in the Al Ahly goal.
"It was a great honour for me and the players to participate in the first match in this important championship and the first match is always different, and we started to play in the first half, but the performance was shy and we could not make the necessary risk, and in the second half we succeeded in making a good presentation and the performance of the players improved clearly.
"Despite the loss of the team, it gained experience and we will try to change some things and we will try to believe in our abilities. Unfortunately, it ended by 1-0, but I do not blame the players and in the second half we started to play well," said Lamouchi.
Duhail will now face Ulsan Hyundai in the fifth/sixth place playoffs in the FIFA Club World Cup.
