From Makomborero Mutimukulu in POLOKWANE, South Africa
Black Leopards ………………………………………(0) 1
Motor Action …………………………………………(0) 1
Motor Action had to dig deep to come out with a scoring draw from an intensely fought out Caf Confederations Cup preliminary round, first leg tie at the Peter Mokaba Stadium here yesterday.
Black Leopards’ substitute Khethokwane Masuku floated in a cross that Vincent Xecane glanced home with Bulls goalminder Marlon Jani stranded.
Defender Godfrey Moyo showed nerves of steel in converting in the 85th minute after the Mighty Bulls had fallen behind early in the second half thanks to some sloppy marking that saw Vincent Xecane heading Black Leopards into a 71st-minute lead off a Khethokwakhe Masuku corner.
A goalless draw in the return leg at Rufaro in two weeks’ time will be enough to book Joey “Mafero” Antipas’ men a ticket into the first round.
Antipas would have accepted a scoring draw before kick-off, but after watching his team dominate the hosts, who anchor the ABSA Premiership, the Motor Action gaffer was understandably left feeling they could have gotten more out of the game.
“It’s a game we could have won but we missed a couple of chances that could have swung it our way. However, that is the way football goes but with the scores at 1-1 and a return leg in Harare to follow we have every reason to feel confident of going through,” he said.
A win would have seen each Motor Action player getting a US$300 bonus from the team’s African safari sponsors, Mbada Diamonds.
“Because the match ended in a draw we will be paying each player a bonus of US$100. The idea is to motivate the boys to fight harder and continue raising the country’s flag high,” explained the company’s media relations officer, Tafadzwa Chiremba.
The Mighty Bulls had a comfortable first half with Jani dealing with the aerial threat posed by Black Leopards well while James Jam was on hand to clear from the line when a corner from the left had the visitors’ men bumping into each other in a bid to clear.
Jani found himself being booked by Zambian referee Bernard Chabala after his exuberant protests against Lidoda Duvha’s decision to continue with an attack while Moyo was lying prostrate just outside the box after a nasty clash with Joshua Obaje.
The veteran Mighty Bulls goalie must have forgotten that fair play is not a rule but a good football culture that teams are expected, but not obliged, to follow.
On the offensive Antipas’ men rarely threatened but on the couple of occasions they did Ngoni Maviri shot just wide while an off-colour Tongai Mangwendere reacted slowly after being set up by the ever-lively Masimba Mambare. After safely negotiating the first half, Motor Action came out firing with the crossbar standing between them and an opener on 51 minutes.
Maviri exchanged passes with Jam just outside the centre line, worked his way past the Black Leopards defence and unleashed a volley that beat the home side’s goalie Richard Omony but not the crossbar.
Minutes later, Antipas spared Mangwendere further toil, pulling out the gangly former Gunners and Hwange striker. New boy Protasho Kabwe was slotted into the right channel with Maviri taking up the lone striker’s role and Gift Phiri drifting into central midfield.
Kabwe came to within inches of making a glorious entrance, his shot going just wide after an overlapping run by right-back Passmore Bernard ushered him into a face-to-face situation with Omony on the hour mark.
Motor Action had strong appeals for a penalty turned away by Chalaba as they laid siege on the home team’s goal.
After falling behind to Xecane’s header with less than 20 minutes to go, Antipas went for broke with Bernard drawing a good save out of Omony before Lidoda Duvha skipper Mongezi Mobobe twice handled in an attempt to clear Mambare’s header off a Madziva cross on 85 minutes.
Referee Chalaba had little option but to point to the spot. Moyo kept his cool to send Omony the wrong way, swinging the pendulum slightly in favour of Motor Action.
“It will be difficult to win in Harare but we will try our best to go through,” conceded Black Leopards coach Vladislav Heric after the match.
Teams
Black Leopards: R. Omony, M. Kwena, H. Khoza, V. Xecane, M/ Tiyani, D/ Banda, (L/ Mapholisa, 70mins), M. Bobe, T. Madimba (K. Masuku 55mins), V. Mabusela, R. Ramagalela, J. Obaje (T. Mongalo, 83mins).
Motor Action: M. Jani, P. Bernard, R. Machaya (T. Masuku, 59mins), G. Moyo, J. Chitereki, D. Mukandi, J. Jam, G. Phiri (I. Madziva, 72mins), M Mambare, N. Maviri, T. Mangwendere (P. Kabwe, 54mins). The Sunday Mail
