Africa-Press – Eswatini. Leopard……………………………….. (0)2
CFFA…………………………………… (1)1
Leopard win 5-3 on aggregate
Royal Leopard are through to the next round of Africa’s premier club competition, the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after coming from a goal down to beat visiting CFFA of Madagascar 2-1 here.
The MTN Premier League champions carried a reed-thin 3-2 lead to this game after last Sunday’s win away in Antananarivo and needed to avoid defeat at home to progress. Leopard are through, 5-3 on aggregate and will now face the winner between Cameroon’s Coton Sport and Matlama of Lesotho.
The West African nation carry a healthy 3-0 lead ahead of this evening tie in Cameroon.
CFFA surprised Leopard with an eighth minute opener scored by Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa and the police ensemble had to react.
Coach Edwin Matsebula rang changes early in the second half, engaging the second gear to suffocate the life out of the Malagasy side. Second half substitute Thokozani ‘Thikithi’ Dlamini was fouled on the left wing and Junior Magagula took the free kick, sending a decent ball into the far post for defender Thami Zulu to nod home to level matters in the 77th minute.
Another second half substitute was on hand to finish the game as a contest in the 83rd minute. Menzi Sithole raced through to goal, rounding off the advancing Andrianirina Rajomazandry at CFFA poles to slot home into an empty net for the winner.
Captain Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini should have started Leopard’s comeback with a goal early in the second half when he made a clever blind side run to meet an equally impressive Junior Magagula pass but his first touch let him down for the goalkeeper to gather.
Mlamuli Msibi was on the overlap moments later but lifted his ball to make things difficult for an onrushing Junior to slot home.
Leopard have taken a step towards a first ever CAF Champions League group stages appearance and will likely face Coton Sport in the next round.
TEAM
Leopard: Mlamuli Makhanya, Mlamuli Msibi, Mancoba Maseko, Simanga Masangane, Thami Zulu, Mzwandile Mabelesa, ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini (‘Thikithi’ Dlamini), Sifiso Matse, ‘Vardy’ Dlamini (‘Shaka’ Simelane), Junior Magagula (Menzi Sithole), Lungelo Tsabedze (Mphumuzo Sangweni)
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