MATSAPHA — Eswatini internationals Kwakhe ‘Stopper’ Thwala and Junior ‘Shisa Gesi’ Magagula moved to within touching distance of the CAF group stages after commanding first-leg victories.
Defender Thwala played the full 90 minutes as Zimbabwean champions Scottland defeated 10-man Petro de Luanda 2-0 in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Sunday, October 18.
Petro goalkeeper Hugo Marques was shown a straight red card in the opening minute by FIFA-accredited South African referee Abongile Tom, leaving the Angolan giants to play with 10 men for the entire match.
Scottland capitalised on their numerical advantage in the second half. Former Warriors star Khama Billiat broke the deadlock in the 68th minute before Knowledge Musona sealed the victory with an 80th-minute strike.
The result gives Scottland a two-goal cushion ahead of the return leg in Luanda. The club that eliminated MTN Premier League champions Nsingizini Hotspurs in the previous round, are chasing a group-stage place worth US$700 000 (over E11.5 million).
In the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, midfielder Magagula’s AS Maniema Union thrashed Angola’s Kabuscorp SC Palanca 4-1 at the Estádio 11 de Novembro.
Magagula, who joined the Democratic Republic of Congo side in July on a three-year deal, started from the bench as his side produced a clinical display.
Kane Souleyman opened the scoring in the 32nd minute before Benny Namboka doubled the lead in the 43rd minute. Israel Ekofo then struck twice in the second half, in the 63rd and 70th minutes, to put the tie beyond the hosts.
Maniema Union, who received a bye into the second preliminary round, are now in a strong position to reach the Confederation Cup group stages, which carries a US$400 000 (about E6.4 million) guarantee.
The second legs are scheduled for October 23–25.
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