Reigning Africa kings TP Mazembe of DR Congo proved their might with a clinical 1-0 win over Yanga SC of Tanzania before a fully packed National Stadium, Dar es Salaam.
Merveille Bope’s second half tap in silenced the home crowd who had filled the 60,000 capacity stadium from as early as 9AM in the morning.
Mazembe are now top of group “A” of the CAF Confederations Cup with six points from two wins.
Yanga were the better side in the first stanza, creating many scoring opportunities mostly from set pieces, however, on each occasion they were denied by Mazembe keeper Sylvain Gbohou who was on top of his game.
Togo defender Vincent Bossou, winger Donald Ngoma and Harun Niyonzima all had their moments for the Young Africans but nothing much yielded.
For the visitors, Thomas Ulimwengu, skipper Kasusula Jean and Roger Assale were threatening to the opposing backline.
The highlight for them was Ulimwengu’s claim for penalty after being brought down by Michael Kamusako which Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe didn’t buy.
Kasusula had the last say of first half forcing Yanga keeper Dio Munish to concede a corner in the 44th minute from a pin point freekick from the right; the resultant corner kick led to another before the danger was finally cleared.
The five times African Champions coiled out of their area in the second half, in an all out attack approach which would later bare fruit.
Issama Mpeko tapped wide from close range denying the Coach Herbert Velud’s the opener at the hour mark.
Looking overwhelmed Yanga Coach Van de Pluijm made a substitution in the 71st minute pulling out Abbrey Chirwa for Matheo Simon.
Bope Goal
Marauding winger Ulimwengu came down tumbling on the edge of the box in the 72nd minute after being tagged by Kelvin Yondani with the ref awarding a freekick instead of a penalty as the Tanzanian international wanted and a yellow card. Kasusula passed the resultant free kick with Merveille Bope firing past keeper Munish for the opener in the 75th minute.
Yanga poured forward in search of an elsusive response. Michael Kamusako blasted wide a freekick from a prime position in the 82nd minute.
Ulimwengu should have added the second for the visitors two minute later but his shot inside the box under pressure sail over the bar.
Mazembe won their opener last weekend 3-1 against Medeama while Yanga who camped in Turkey lost to
Algeria’s MO Bejaia 1-0.
@bonfaceosano
