CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

SATURDAY’S RESULT

TP Mazembe 0 (2)-(4) 0 Vipers SC

It was a show of character and guile as Vipers stormed their first-ever Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League group stages, after ejecting decorated TP Mazembe, thanks to a spirited 4-2 penalty shootout win on Saturday, October 15th.

After playing out to another goalless draw in the second leg, post-match penalties were next on the menu – a battle the Venoms clinically won.

Raw Emotions: Vipers players and technical staff in a priceless celebration hurdle.

The spot-kick heroes were attacking midfielder Bright Anukani, left-back Disan Galiwango, defender Ashraf Mandela and midfielder Olivier Osomba – hitting the back of the net as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) giants scored only twice to allow Vipers script their history at the multi-purpose Stade TP Mazembe.

Earlier in the match, it was the hosts that dictated the pace of the match in-front of a vociferous home crowd in the first half.TP Mazembe probed and surged forward one too many a time with some threats in-front of the visitors’ goalmouth without really being incisiveness.

Defence Kingpins: (L-R) Siraje Sentamu, Murushid Juuko and Livingston were rock-solid at the back to control proceedings.

Chance-laden encounter

But it was the Venoms that created the first scare, in the 17th minute as Milton Karisa missed a tap-in following great vision by Yunus Sentamu who set him up with superb precision.

Goalie’s View: Alfred Mudekereza was impregnable between the posts, once again!

The Ugandan champions second chance nearly came towards the breather with ‘electric man’ Abdu Lumala put power behind the ball while just outside the six-yard zone but only unlucky to watch his stinging shot ricochet off the woodwork.

In the 60th minute, centre-back Livingstone Mulondo’s header agonizingly flew wide off Galiwango’s inch-perfect corner-kick.

Silencing The Crowd: Bright Anukani set the tonic with a clinic finish from the spot at the spot.

Moments after the hour-mark, substitute Anukani’s thunderous drive was stopped by the immensely talented TP Mazembe goalie Siadi Baggio Ngusia.

Dose Of Their Own Medicine: Congolese Olivier Osomba scored the winning penalty that sealed victory for Vipers.

Mazembe, too, had an opportunity to break the deadlock in the 74th minute through their dangerous Zambian substitute Rainford Kalaba, but Alfred Mudekereza was up to the challenge with an exquisite save, as both teams saw out the entire 90 minutes with nothing to show on the scoreboard.

How Vipers lined up 

Alfred Mudekereza (GK), Ashraf Mandela, Isa Mubiru, Livingstone Mulondo, Murushid Juuko, Hillary Mukundane, Siraje Sentamu, Olivier Osomba, Abdu Lumala, Milton Karisa (C), Yunus Sentamu.

Substitutes: Fabien Mutombora, Disan Galiwango, Bashir Asiku, Cromwell Rwothomio, Marvin Joseph Youngman, Bright Anukani, Abubakar Lawal