By SAMUEL LUKHANDA UD Songo 1 – 2 Nkana –
TEN-MAN Nkana beat UD Songo of Mozambique in Beira to take a two-away goal cushion into the second leg of the preliminary round of this transitional CAF Champions League.
The Nkana win capped a clean sweep by the Zambian representatives in the CAF inter-club competitions with Zesco United, Green Eagles and Green Buffaloes all recording wins in the opening fixtures.
Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi was happy with the result but was cautious that there was still the second leg to be played before the tie could be decided.
“The boys put up a good fight with the preparations we did. I am happy we were attacking the way we did. We should have killed off this game in the first-half but that’s the way football is,” said Chambeshi in the post-match interview.
Chambeshi admitted it was a difficult game and his players came into the match under pressure because it was the first time they played Songo but was glad they are going home with a result.
He said they head home to build on the first-leg 2-1 win as they aim to proceed to the next round but his strikers need to be more clinical in front of goal.
They wasted a lot of chances with Ronald Kampamba twice fluffing his lines when face to face with Songo goalkeeper Leonel Mario Pendula, skipper Walter Binene Bwalya followed the act and Shadreck Malambo was also guilty of the same.
Hoping to avoid last term’s first day woes, the 12-time Zambian champions started on the front foot and got rewarded in the 34 minute when youngster Harrison Chisala, making his champions league debut, put them ahead to stun the home crowd.
The visitors took the one-goal advantage to the break and started the second from where they left off on a hot afternoon at Estadio Chiveve in Beira forcing Songo to make three changes in 51 minutes.
Substitute Festus Mbewe doubled the visitors lead in the 80th minute and the Zambians looked truly in control of the tie as their rear guard held firm.
However, eight minutes later, midfielder Duncan Otieno was sent-off for a second bookable offense and the host used their numerical advantage to score three minutes into stoppage time through Sunday Awasa to take away the win gloss from the result.
The second leg is billed for Nkana Stadium in Kitwe on December 4th.