Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
Scottland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Nsingizini Hotspurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
SCOTTLAND coach Norman Mapeza has warned that the job is only half done after his side secured a slender victory over Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Second-half substitute Neville Tengeg scored the decisive goal in the 66th minute to hand the Zimbabwean champions a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg at Somhlolo National Stadium in Eswatini this weekend.
While jubilant scenes greeted the final whistle, Mapeza remained focused on the bigger picture, insisting his side still faces a tough assignment away from home.
The former Zimbabwe international acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, especially after the visitors were reduced to 10 men as early as the third minute when defender Kingsley Mkwakyi was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Moses Shidolo.
Mapeza welcomed the victory, but felt Scottland should have taken greater advantage of their numerical superiority and built a much healthier cushion before the second leg.
“If you look at our performance in the first half, after they got that red card, I thought we were going to do better. But I think they were very solid.
“They looked very, very organised at the back. And when you’re playing a team which is sitting deep, it’s very important to be more creative, especially in the final third. But that creativity wasn’t there, especially in the first half,” said Mapeza.
“We created a little bit, but it wasn’t enough. In the second half, we made those changes during the break, and I think we really started to play.
“But usually, playing against a 10-man team, it’s very difficult because those guys will fight for their lives.
“At the end of the day, we won. I’m happy, but I think we could have done better. We had two good opportunities, especially in the second half. We were talking of 3-0, maybe 2-0.
“But look, it’s a win. I’m grateful. Then it’s for us to make sure we sit down and plan properly as we continue with this journey when we go to Eswatini,” said Mapeza.
The victory was rewarded with a US$100 000 bonus from the club’s benefactor, who celebrated the result with the players after the final whistle.
Tengeg, introduced at the start of the second half, justified Mapeza’s tactical switch by scoring the match-winner to ensure the Mabvuku-based side carried an advantage into the return encounter.
The visitors had suffered an early setback when Mkwakyi received his marching orders just three minutes into the contest, but Scottland struggled to capitalise despite dominating possession for long periods.
Missing influential forward Knowledge Musona through injury, the home side lacked a cutting edge in the opening half.
Abubakar Moffat tested goalkeeper Sibusiso Dlamini with a long-range effort after 13 minutes, forcing the custodian into a save that resulted in a corner.
From the set-piece, towering defender Shidolo connected with a header, but Dlamini was again well positioned to gather comfortably.
Scottland appealed strongly for a penalty on the half-hour mark after the ball appeared to strike Luyanda Nhlengetewa’s hand, but referee Sikhumbuzo Patrick Gasa waved play on.
Mthokozisi Msebe then fired narrowly wide from distance shortly before halftime as the hosts went into the break frustrated by a resolute Nsingizini defence.
Mapeza made a double substitution at the restart, bringing in Tengeg and Emmanuel Ziocha for Khama Billiat and Panashe Mtimbanyoka.
The move paid dividends when Tengeg finally broke the deadlock after 66 minutes.
Emmanuel Jalai, who had just been booked for simulation, did the donkey work on the right flank before threading a neat pass into the box.
Tengeg controlled the ball and fired a low shot beyond Dlamini with the help of the upright.
Moments later, Tengeg spotted the goalkeeper off his line and attempted a volley which sailed just over the crossbar.
Jalai, full of energy on the flank, then made another brilliant run on the right and again found Tengeg, who rounded the goalkeeper but dragged his effort just wide of the target.
Those chances could yet prove important after Scottland failed to make their numerical advantage count more heavily.
Nsingizini Hotspurs coach Mandla David Qhogi felt the early red card forced his side to abandon their original plan.
“A tough one for us, conceding a red card in the first two minutes of the game. It put us under pressure, and we had to change the strategy because we didn’t want to open up at the back.
“I think we give credit to Scotland for putting us under pressure, and congratulations also for them winning the game. I think our boys did very well; we are proud of what they displayed today.”
Qhogi believes the tie remains open ahead of the return leg in Eswatini.
“It’s not a good result as a football coach to take, but with us having a second leg to play at home, I think we stand a chance,” he said.
“We just have to make sure that we do the right things and the game is open; we can still score more goals.
“But as I said in the previous interview, we want to give ourselves a chance to make it to the next round. This is a good result, and we think it’s easy to change it in our favour,” said Qhogi.
Team line-ups:
Scottland: Nelson Chadya, Emmanuel Jalai, Moses Shidolo, Peter Muduhwa, Kelvin Moyo, Khwake Thwala, Mthokozisi Msebe, Walter Musona, Khama Billiat (Neville Tengeg, 46th min), Abubakar Moffat, Panashe Mtimbanyoka (Emmanuel Ziocha, 46th min)
Nsingizini Hotspurs: Sibusiso Dlamini, Siyabonga Mkhonto (Thulani Jingana, 52nd min), Njongo Mazibuko (Mvuselel Mthethwa, 90th min), Quality Dlamini, Innocent Pakule, Kingsley Mkwakyi, Bongiswa Dlamini, Luyanda Nhlengetewa, Vuyo Macina, Nkosingiphile Shongwe, Sinenkosi Dlamini
