Barry Steenkamp
Swaziland club side Royal Leopard made the most of home advantage and beat visiting Zambian side Red Arrows 1-0 to advance to the next round of the 2012 Orange CAF Confederation Cup.
The two sides played out a goalless draw a fortnight ago in Zambia and striker Barry Steenkamp in the second half proved decisive.
By knocking out Red Arrows, the Swaziland police outfit wrote their own piece of history. Royal Leopard becomes the first team in a decade to beat Zambia club side in continental competition.
The host side dominated early play and sensed the visitors were up for the taking during the match played at Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini.
The two sides played out a goalless draw a fortnight ago in Zambia and striker Barry Steenkamp in the second half proved decisive.
By knocking out Red Arrows, the Swaziland police outfit wrote their own piece of history. Royal Leopard becomes the first team in a decade to beat Zambia club side in continental competition.
The host side dominated early play and sensed the visitors were up for the taking during the match played at Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini.
The home side created chances with Bongani Sibandze and Zweli Nxumalo going close for Royal Leopard who played as a cohesive unit in attack and defence.
The visitors had their fair scoring chances too and in striker Adubelo Phiri there had a player who needed close attention of defenders and Swazi goalkeeper Mphikeleli Dlamini to stop him whenever he threatened.
In the 61st minute Royal Leopard’s John Gama shot on goal rebounded and Steenkamp reacted quickest to head in the game only goal much to the delight of the home crowd.
Both sides continued to create chances and Arrows could have equalised but striker Lubinda Mundia sent his shot just wide during a period when the Zambians upped the game in search of an equalizer.
Royal Leopard then closed shop opting to put more men behind the ball as they sought to protect their lead.
Arrows accepted the invitation to attack and besieged the Leopard goal forcing a number of corner kicks in the process.
Leopard defended bravely but it almost went pear-shaped for them when a shot from Arrows hit the cross bar.
The anxious home crowd was eventually spared the agony when the match ended and jubilation for the Swaziland team who now advance to the next round to play US Tshinkunku from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) later this month.
The visitors had their fair scoring chances too and in striker Adubelo Phiri there had a player who needed close attention of defenders and Swazi goalkeeper Mphikeleli Dlamini to stop him whenever he threatened.
In the 61st minute Royal Leopard’s John Gama shot on goal rebounded and Steenkamp reacted quickest to head in the game only goal much to the delight of the home crowd.
Both sides continued to create chances and Arrows could have equalised but striker Lubinda Mundia sent his shot just wide during a period when the Zambians upped the game in search of an equalizer.
Royal Leopard then closed shop opting to put more men behind the ball as they sought to protect their lead.
Arrows accepted the invitation to attack and besieged the Leopard goal forcing a number of corner kicks in the process.
Leopard defended bravely but it almost went pear-shaped for them when a shot from Arrows hit the cross bar.
The anxious home crowd was eventually spared the agony when the match ended and jubilation for the Swaziland team who now advance to the next round to play US Tshinkunku from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) later this month.
CAF
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