Home | Sports | AS VITA THRASH LEOPARD 4-1 IN DRC

AS VITA THRASH LEOPARD 4-1 IN DRC

Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font



AS Vita ........................................4
Leopard .......................................1
(AS Vita win 4-2 on aggregate)

MBABANE – Royal Leopard’s fairytale run in the CAF Confederations Cup ended abruptly in DR Congo yesterday.


AS Vita, the continental giants, pumped in four goals to Leopard’s one to win the one sided affair 4-1. The Congolese side advance to the next stage on a 4-2 aggregate victory. The boiling Tata Raphael Stadium in Congo proved too much for the local side, as they hardly threatened in front of over 60 000 passionate home supporters.


Leopard conceded early in the first half, as AS Vita seized control of the clash in their bid to overturn the 0-1 first leg defeat. The first leg clash was played at Somhlolo National Stadium.
Scoring Leopard’s consolation goal in the dying minutes of the clash after a set piece was captain and central defender Siboniso ‘Rocco’ Malambe.


AS Vita had broken the deadlock early in the opening half through brace hero, the troublesome Mbebe. The hosts went for the halftime break comfortably enjoying their 2-0 lead and buoyed on by their supporters, who were making life a misery for the visitors.


In the last half, AS Vita continued from where they left off in the first and scored two more goals through Tira and Kazadi to seal the win in emphatic fashion.
The late goal by Malambe did little if anything at all to change the complexion of the clash.


Interviewed after the game, Leopard PRO Frank Hurube attributed their defeat to the unbearable heat conditions in that country.
“It was just too hot. Perhaps we should have come here much earlier so that our players could adjust. We have never experienced such conditions. Imagine that it’s now after six, but the heat is still unbearable. It was worse during the course of the game then because it was still early afternoon.


“We will go back to the drawing board and correct our mistakes. There is no need to complain much even with the dubious officiating we got from the Eritrean referee. The referee played a huge role in AS Vita’s two opening goals. We will, however, not make that an excuse,” said Hurube.


The police ensemble is expected back home tonight. They will arrive through the Ngwenya Border Gate at around 11 pm.
Hurube urged their supporters to meet them at the border gate.

Comments (0 posted):

Post your comment comment

Please enter the code you see in the image: