Zambia’s Zanaco edged Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca 1-0 at the Heroes Stadium, Lusaka to pick first full points in the African Champions League day two on Wednesday.
Buoyed by the previous barren draw away to Al Ahly at the dreaded Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, the coach Numba Mumamba’s charges took the match to the Kings of Titles from onset in search of an early goal.
Ernest Mbewe delivered the all-important goal for the Sensational Zanaco thirteen minutes into play with panache.
Rattled by the score line and with time quickly running out, coach Hussein Amotta introduced the lethal duo of Nigeria’s Chisum Chikatara and Liberia’s William Jebor, however, Zanaco’s solid defense proved unbreakable yet at again.
Zanaco are now joint top of group B with four points same as Esperance, who were yesterday held by St. George to a barren draw in Addis Ababa.
In group C, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns run riot – thumping AS Vita Club 3-1 before an intimidating crowd at the Stade de Martyrs, Kinshasa.
Liberian winger Anthony Laffor headed the Brazilians in the lead in the 24th – a lead which lasted up-to the 31st minute when Oumar Sidibe leveled for the home side with a humongous strike.
Ivorian Yannick Zakri, who was acquired from ASEC Mimomas last season, continued to repay coach Pitso Masimone’s faith in him with his first Champions League goal this season in the 57th minute to make it 2-1 for Sundowns.
Sibusiso Vilakazi stretched the lead in the 77th minute with a superb solo effort to make it 3-1.
Vita find themselves bottom of the group after losing their initial outing against Wydad Casablanca by a similar margin – compounding pressure on coach Florent Ibenge.
