Orange Champions League

Yesterday’s results (2nd leg)

TP Mazembe 2-0 APR
Mazembe qualified on goal
aggregates (2-1)

APR crashed out of the Orange Champions League yesterday after losing 2-0 to the competition’s reigning champions TP Mazembe in the second-leg, second round at Stade Martyrs, Kinshasa.

TP Mazembe skipper and 2009 CAF local African player of the year Tresor Mabi Mputu scored the opener on the 7th minute while Patu Kabangu put the game beyond APR’s reach with a 72nd strike.

For the opener, Mputu pounced on careless defending from APR’s backline before firing a strong shot past APR’s goalkeeper Jean Luc Ndayishimiye.

Kabangu who looked to be off-side compounded APR’s misery after beating Ndayishimiye.

Dioko Kaluyituka, Mputu, Guy Lusadisu, Mbedi Mpenza and Kabangu also went close but Ndayishimiye kept the army-side in the game with a string of top class saves.

Things however went from bad to worse when APR’s skipper Patrick Mafisango and Malawi international forward Vincent Nyirenda were shown marching orders by Zambia referee Wellington Kaoma.

Mafisango was the first to leave the pitch on the 40th minute when he received a second yellow in a space of ten minutes after a deliberate hand ball.

In the second half, Nyirenda followed his captain when he received a second yellow for diving in Mazembe’s penalty box although video footage showed that there was contact from Mazembe’s defender Hichani Himonde.

With nine-men and a goal down, Erik Paske’s men could not contain Mazembe’s offensive play.

TP Mazembe are now through to the third round of the competition and still in the hunt for a fourth Champions league title.

On the other hand, APR have to wait a little longer before realizing their dream of reaching the group stage of the lucrative competition.

In 2006/07 season, the military side were given four red cards as they lost out (0-2) to Togo’s Maranatha Fiokopo.

Elsewhere, Tunisian side Esperance secured a 3-1 away win over ASFA Yennenga of Burkina Faso to reach the next round. Esperance advanced 7-2 on aggregate following their impressive 4-1 win in the first leg in Tunis two weeks ago.

South Africa’s Super Sport United also progressed despite the 2-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Ferroviario Maputo in Mozambique. The visitors advanced 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a 3-0 first-leg win a fortnight ago.

Egypt’s Ismailia was also beaten in their away game against Tamponnaise of Reunion Island but they managed to qualify 3-2 on aggregate.

Libyan champions Al Ittihad secured an exciting 4-3 away victory over Difaa Al Jadida of Morocco to win the tie 5-4 on aggregate.

Ends