AS MANIEMA UNION ....... 0
NGEZI PLATINUM STARS . 0
(AS Maniema Union progress to the first round after a 4-3 penalty shootout win)
NGEZI Platinum Stars failed to pass the first hurdle in their debut Caf Champions League campaign after a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to hosts AS Maniema Union in the preliminary round second leg clash at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, DRC yesterday.
Polite Moyo and Gareth Madhake were the fall guys after they failed to convert the fourth and fifth kicks during the shootout.
Moyo dragged his shot wide while Madhake hit the underside of the bar and the ball bounced back to safety.
Captain Kudzai Chigwida, Farai Madhanaga and Tinotenda Musariranwa were successful from the spot.
Agee Basiala, Ordy Simete, Paty Ilunga and Rodrique Kitwa scored for the hosts.
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After holding the DRC side to a goalless draw in the first leg played at their adopted home in Zambia last week, the Takesure Chiragwi-coached side needed a scoring draw or an outright win to progress to the first round.
However, they could not build on from their encouraging performance in Lusaka where they dominated play and were simply unfortunate to draw.
Here, they huffed and puffed for the majority of the game and were actually lucky that the game went all the way.
Maniema took control of the match from the onset, but for all their dominance, they could not really test Ngezi Platinum Stars goalkeeper Nelson Chadya.
In a match of very few chances, Ngezi Platinum Stars only had two shots on target through Tapiwa Mandinyenya in the first half and Obriel Chirinda's scuffed effort with three minutes remaining in the match.
Maniema had a few pot shots in the first half, and the closest they came into scoring was in the 47th minute when Obed Mbala's angled shot beat Chadya only to crash against the upright.
The away side had to soak a lot of pressure later in the second half, with some heroic defending keeping them in the game.
Chiragwi was gracious in defeat, conceding that the opponent were simply better and deserved to go through to the first round of the competition where they will face Petro du Luanda of Angola.
Ngezi Platinum Stars team are expected to arrive back in the county this morning.
Teams
AS Maniema Union: A Basiala (N Mobaelua, 96'), O Sangana, R Musinga, O Mbala (R Kitwa, 68'), A Bokomboli, D Lupini, B Efonge, J Mboma, E Moanda, O Ndombele, J Kitambala
Ngezi Platinum Stars: N Chadya, K Chigwida, M Hativagoni, F Madhanaga, R Hachiro, T Mandinyenya (P Moyo, 46'), L Kashitigu (M Mukumba, 79'), T Meke (C Mavhurume, 46'), T Benhura (G Madhake, 57'), O Chirinda, C Mapoka (T Musariranwa, 46').
