Primeiro de Agosto on Friday leapt to second place in dramatic fashion in Group D after rallying to down Zesco United 2-1 at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda.
The Angolans came from one-down after John Chingandu had put Zesco ahead after the hour mark to equalize in the last ten minutes and later snatched the winner in stoppage time. Star player Geraldo came off the bench in the 55th minute to score one and create the winner to elevate Agosto to five points and see Zambia’s Zesco slump to the bottom on two points from four games.
The Angolans came from one-down after John Chingandu had put Zesco ahead after the hour mark to equalize in the last ten minutes and later snatched the winner in stoppage time. Star player Geraldo came off the bench in the 55th minute to score one and create the winner to elevate Agosto to five points and see Zambia’s Zesco slump to the bottom on two points from four games.
It was a deserved win for Agosto who especially dominated the opening half but were let down by poor finishing or denied by an alert Jacob Banda in goal for Zesco. Razaq Adegbite fired his sixth minute shot wide and three minutes later Banda saved Mario’s header.
Zesco’s first opportunity against the run of play came in the 18th minute but defender Marcel Kalonda’s header flew inches high of the beam.
However, Agosto continued to pile the pressure and Banda was again on hand in the 23 minute to deny Bitumba Bakulu.
The visitors did improve and gave Agosto something to think about five minutes before the break but Chingandu’s tame shot in the 42st minute was easily collected by Tony. Lazarus Kambole then produced the Zambians finest moment at goal of that period with a fine shot that saw Tony pull out the stops to save.
The second half was up for grabs with Zesco looking more convincing when they returned from the dressing room but Kambole saw his 47th minute goal-bound shot cleared by Paizo.
But Zesco then had the post to thank in the 52nd minute off a Bokamba Mongo effort that eluded Banda.
The deadlock was broken in the 67th minute when Chingandu whipped in a fine grounder from outside the box.
David Owino could have had Zesco’s second goal but sent his header marginally wide in the 70th minute.
Agosto regained their composure and Geraldo duly delivered the equalizer in the 84th minute with a superb shot to raise their hopes yet again.
Geraldo turned provider in the seventh minute of time added -on for Unge Bobo to score with a flying header and hand the Angolans their first win at the group stage.
Zesco on the other hand remain winless in Group D with two games left to play.
Elsewhere, Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel became the first team to qualify to the quarters after a 2-0 win over Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland in Sousse also on Friday.
Fixtures/Results
Group A
28.07.2018 13H00 Kampala KCCA (Uganda) vs Esperance (Tunisia)
28.07.2018 16H00 Gaborone Rollers (Botswana) vs Ahly (Egypt)
Group B
27.07.2018 19H00 Jadida Difaa El Jadidi (Morocco) 1-1 ES Setif (Algeria)
28.07.2018 19H00 Blida MC Alger (Algeria) vs TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Group C
27.07.2018 19H00 Pretoria Sundowns (South Africa) 2-1 AS Togo (Togo)
28.07.2018 19H00 Casablanca Wydad (Morocco) vs Horoya (Guinea)
Group D
27.07.2018 19H00 Sousse Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) 2-0 Swallows (Swaziland)
27.07.2018 16H00 Luanda Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) 2-1 Zesco (Zambia)
By cafonline.com
Zesco’s first opportunity against the run of play came in the 18th minute but defender Marcel Kalonda’s header flew inches high of the beam.
However, Agosto continued to pile the pressure and Banda was again on hand in the 23 minute to deny Bitumba Bakulu.
The visitors did improve and gave Agosto something to think about five minutes before the break but Chingandu’s tame shot in the 42st minute was easily collected by Tony. Lazarus Kambole then produced the Zambians finest moment at goal of that period with a fine shot that saw Tony pull out the stops to save.
The second half was up for grabs with Zesco looking more convincing when they returned from the dressing room but Kambole saw his 47th minute goal-bound shot cleared by Paizo.
But Zesco then had the post to thank in the 52nd minute off a Bokamba Mongo effort that eluded Banda.
The deadlock was broken in the 67th minute when Chingandu whipped in a fine grounder from outside the box.
David Owino could have had Zesco’s second goal but sent his header marginally wide in the 70th minute.
Agosto regained their composure and Geraldo duly delivered the equalizer in the 84th minute with a superb shot to raise their hopes yet again.
Geraldo turned provider in the seventh minute of time added -on for Unge Bobo to score with a flying header and hand the Angolans their first win at the group stage.
Zesco on the other hand remain winless in Group D with two games left to play.
Elsewhere, Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel became the first team to qualify to the quarters after a 2-0 win over Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland in Sousse also on Friday.
Fixtures/Results
Group A
28.07.2018 13H00 Kampala KCCA (Uganda) vs Esperance (Tunisia)
28.07.2018 16H00 Gaborone Rollers (Botswana) vs Ahly (Egypt)
Group B
27.07.2018 19H00 Jadida Difaa El Jadidi (Morocco) 1-1 ES Setif (Algeria)
28.07.2018 19H00 Blida MC Alger (Algeria) vs TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Group C
27.07.2018 19H00 Pretoria Sundowns (South Africa) 2-1 AS Togo (Togo)
28.07.2018 19H00 Casablanca Wydad (Morocco) vs Horoya (Guinea)
Group D
27.07.2018 19H00 Sousse Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) 2-0 Swallows (Swaziland)
27.07.2018 16H00 Luanda Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) 2-1 Zesco (Zambia)
By cafonline.com
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