Africa-Press – Eswatini. R.Leopard……………………..(1)1
Sifiso 27 th
Coton Sport……………………(1)1
Banen 3 th
ROYAL Leopard have kept their group stages hopes alive after playing to a 1-all draw against visiting side Coton Sport yesterday on home turf.
The CAF Champions League first round first leg game was played in front of a home crowd at Mavuso Sports Centre.
The visitors took an early lead in three minutes of the game through Philippe Banen’s effort much to the delight of the tiny group of the locally-based Cameroon nationals present at the venue.
The West Africans continued to enjoy a greater share of possession, forcing the hosts to commit numerous mistakes.
The police side was stunned by the early goal, but soon found their rhythm and neatly found an equaliser when Junior Magagula shot straight into the hands of the opposition’s goalkeeper in 18 minutes.
Edwin Matsebula’s men finally levelled matters before the half hour mark through a well-taken Sifiso Matse effort which beat Coton goalkeeper Gadin Allambatnan hands down
The two sides went for the break still locked in the stalemate.
The Cottoners, as the visitors are affectionately known, were looking lively after the restart as their second goal was ruled offside three minutes into the second half by Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe.
The visitors’ goalkeeper Allambatan made a crucial save after the hour mark when he kept out a Muzi ‘Mzoro’Dlamini’s well-taken effort. It was an end to end stuff as both sides searched for the winning goal that never was.
Ingwemabalabala, as the police side is affectionately known to their supporters, will now travel to Cameroon to redeem themselves for the second leg of the encounter, and the winner will progress to the group stage that carries a E9.7 million bounty.
The current MTN Premier League defending champions will now need to pull at least a 1-0 win or a not less than a 2- all draw in order to reach the group stages of the continent’s premier club competition.
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