YOUNG Africans’ hopes of securing CAF Confederation Cup semifinals berth continue to dwindle after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ghanaian side Medeama yesterday.
It seemed as if Yanga were heading to a convincing victory but Donald Ngoma’s early first half strike was cancelled out by Bernard Donso in the same half. Yanga badly needed a win at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam to put its campaign back on track, after they lost both previous games; 1-0 away to Mo Bejaia in Algeria and a similar loss to DR Congo side TP Mazembe at home.
The latest result left Yanga at the bottom of Group A with one point from three matches. They are five points behind group leaders Mazembe, who will play second placed Mo Bejaia in Algiers, Algeria today.
Bejaia have four points from two matches, while Medeama have collected two points from three matches. Mathematically, it is still possible for Yanga to turn around the tables and qualify into the semifinals.
Hans van der Pluijm’s side now need to win all their remaining three matches, which include two away encounters and pray that the rest in the group fail to pick maximum points in their remaining matches for the Jangwani Street side to have any chance of making it into the semi-finals. In yesterday’s match Pluijm started with three strikers - Ngoma, Zambian Obrey Chirwa and Burundian Amissi Tambwe.
No wonder, Yanga started strongly and Zimbabwean virtuoso midfielder, Thabani Kamusoko was at the top of things. Kamusoko orchestrated the opening goal in the second minute, skilfully driving past a thick of defenders before setting up a wonderful square pass to his countryman Ngoma, who showed quality goal scoring instinct to beat the advancing goalkeeper, Daniel Adjei with a simple chip. After the goal, Yanga continued to boss possession, going forward in search for more goals but failed to make the most out of the few chances they created.
Medeama kept cool and as minutes went by, the Ghanaians took control of the midfield. In the 14th minute, Medeama defender took a terrific strike outside the area but goalkeeper Deogratius Munishi was well positioned to easily collect the ball. They continued to create chances and it finally paid off in the 19th minute when Donso deflected home a shot from Enock Atta Adjei.
Yanga paid the price for poor defending from a corner after a half cleared ball landed on Adjei’s path and his powerful shot was slightly touched by Donso inside the three yards to beat keeper Deogratius Munishi. Medeama’s equalising goal to some extent extracted venom out of Yanga, as the visitors were now all over, playing with great level of intensity but they also failed to finish off their opponents.
Yanga slightly recovered and Chirwa ought to have netted the second goal after he turned defender Aidoo inside out, coming face to face with the keeper but the Zambian went for power, shooting straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. After the break Yanga came with intent to win but Tambwe missed a clear opportunity to put his side ahead in the 48th minute, when he raced clear to a through ball from the midfield but he fired straight to the keeper. In the 52nd minute, Tambwe forced his way into the box, before setting up Simon Msuva but the winger squandered the opportunity to score.
They continued to pour forward in numbers and in the 59th minute, right wing back Juma Abdul released a well measured cross, which Ngoma attacked with an overhead kick that was expertly parried off by otherwise outstanding agile goalie. Then Kamusoko’s long drive from his own half in the 70th minute almost beat the keeper, who had to stretch fully to tip it over the bar.
Yanga wasted another opportunity three minutes later, when Ngoma headed Abdul’s cross wide just three yards inside the area. Yanga introduced Juma Mahadhi for Tambwe and Oscar Joshua was replaced by Haruna Niyonzima in the 76th minute and the changes charged the home side as they kept pressing hard in search of goals but the story remained the same, missing chance after chance. The home team was almost punished from its ineptness, when Abbas Mohammed missed from a sitter in the dying minutes of the game. He sliced his shot wide with only Munishi to beat.
Meanwhile, Jackson Mwanza, John Ching’andu and Idriss Mbombo scored a goal apiece to help Zesco United overcome Asec Mimosas 3-1 on matchday three in Group A of the 2016 Caf Champions League at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday.
The victory helped Zesco United to move into second position, level on 6 points with leaders Wydad Casablanca who play Al Ahly later.
Lwandamina’s men’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals will be boosted if they avoid defeat against today’s vanquished opponent on July 27 as well as in the other two matches with Al Ahly (A) and Wydad Casablanca (H) in August.
Mwanza opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with his first goal of the competition and Ching’andu added the second and his third goal of the competition to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break. The game turned on its head when second half substitute Youssouf Dao pulled a goal back in the 76th minute but two minutes later Zesco United restored their two goal cushion through Idriss Mbombo who had replaced Mwanza in the 68th minute.
goal was Mbombo’s fifth in the competition. Lwandamina told fazfootball.com that his charges were motivated for a win following a 2-0 defeat to Wydad on matchday two.
