Staff Reporter.
AmaZulu FC stunned TP Mazembe of DR Congo when they held them to a 1-1 to advance to the group stages of the Caf Champions on the away goal rule after the first leg of the second preliminary play-off ended 0-0 in Durban last weekend.
Bongi Ntuli’s 37th minute goal earned AmaZulu a shock 1-1 aggregate victory over a revered DR Congo side, TP Mazembe, at the Stade TP Mazembe Stadium on Saturday. The defeat (this one on away goal rule) was a second at home for Mazembe in two successive Champions League editions by a South African side.
Bileko Mbaki’s stunning leveller in the referee’s optional time didn’t help Mazembe as Usuthu advance through an away goal rule.
Usuthu’s victory could form part a great weekend for SA teams against central African sides in Caf competitions after Marumo Gallants knocked out Mazembe rivals Vita Club in the Caf Confederations Cup with a 3-2 aggregate victory away from home on Friday.
Meanwhile five time African champions Zamalek SC became the first team to qualify for the group stages of the CAF Champions League after beating Kenyan champions Tusker FC 4-0 at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Friday.
The victory at home too the aggregate score to 5-0, Zamalek having won 1-0 in the first leg in Nairobi last Saturday.
Youssef “Obama” Fayed scored a brace for the White Knights as they dominated the Kenyan side who now drop into the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup play-off round.
The hosts were 2-0 up after just 20 minutes with Obama and Seifeddine Jaziri scoring.
Obama opened the scoring after 11 minutes when he headed into an empty net after Tusker keeper Patrick Matasi failed in his bid to pluck out a freekick from the right.
Seven minutes later, they were 2-0 up after Jaziri nodded the ball home past Matasi after the home side turned possession in midfield, quickly playing the ball out wide for an inviting cross into the box.
Zamalek were comfortable with the lead and controlled the game with the visitors chasing. They had a chance at the stroke of halftime off a Deogratius Ojok freekick but he curled it straight to the keeper.
Tusker came back better in the second half and started brighter with the introduction of John Njuguna giving them life in attack.
But, Zamalek were in crisp control and within two minutes with quarter of an hour left, they had stamped their authority in the game with two quick goals.