By jafferson Ndhlovu,
Zimbabwe champions Caps United will need some form of a magic wand to progress to the next round of the CAF Champions league.
After losing an identical scoreline 4-2 in the back to back encounters again Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya in Tunisia, Caps United are practically out the reckoning to progress. They might even finish bottom of the table.
United took an enviable and lifeline lead going into break.
In the 15th minute Saler Taher put the Libyans in the lead via a header. But four minutes later Pfumbidzai equalised for the visitors from a well taken Ronald Chitiyo corner kick that gave the Green machine greater hope of staying in the elite African Club Championship. That resolve was made even better in the 42nd minute when yChitiyo scored to make 2-1 heading to the break.
Straight on the restart while Caps were seemingly still celebrating the 2-1 lead, Saler Taher was back on the score sheet with another header for a brace to put the libyans on level terms. It was a forgettable error by Pfumbidzai that cost the Zimbabwean side.
Al Ahli Tripoli from then on never looked back as the overly unsettled Caps United defence was breached twice by the Libyans through Mohamed Ghanudi and Muaid Ellafi 55th and 64th minutes respectively to finish the night on 4-2. Practically making 8-2 in favou of Al Ahli Tripoli on head to head in this group.
A 72nd minute strike could have made the scoreline much worse but the Zimbabweans were saved by the post of blushing embarrassment.
With early table toppers Zamalek losing 2nil to USM Alger in the other group match. Caps are practically out of tournament. They have lost twice away but it was the crucial 4-2 loss at home last night’s opponents that has made all the matters worse. Home wins in these group matches are important. Tripoli and Algers lead the on 7 points going into week five and Zamalek remained on 5 points, Caps anchoring the log with 3 points.
Caps United will be on the road again to USM Algers and with their poor record on the road, the trip to Algeria on July 1 could just be the final nail in the CAF Champions league 2017. While Zamalek will host Al Ahli Tripoli in Egypt.
