Motor Action advance in Champions League

Sports Reporter
Cnaps Sports ………………………….… 0
Motor Action …………………………. (0) 1
(Motor Action won 4-3 on penalties after the tie had ended 1-1 on aggregate)
MOTOR Action progressed to the next round of the Champions League mini-league qualifiers after upsta-ging hosts Cnaps Sports of Madagascar in a penalty shootout in the second leg of their preliminary round tie in Antananarivo yesterday.
The Mighty Bulls, who appeared down and out when they suffered 1-0 after a lifeless performance at Rufaro two weeks ago, came back from the dead yesterday and settled well into the game courtesy of a 76th minute strike from Kuda Musharu.
Motor Action, however. needed a penalty lottery to progress after the teams had ended level 1-1 on aggregate.
Veteran goalkeeper Marlon Jani capped a fine comeback for the Mighty Bulls when he saved one of the penalties and scored the winning spot kick.
Defenders Passmore Bernard, Ocean Mushure and Temba Ndlovu also converted their kicks but midfielder Allen Gahadzikwa was the only one to miss when failed to beat the hosts’ goalkeeper.
Cnaps Sports scored their first two spotkicks but crashed their third effort against the woodwork.
Motor Action then got the advantage when Jani punched out to safety the fourth spot kick before scoring the winner.
Coach Joey Antipas was naturally elated by the victory, which ensured them safe passage to the first round, where they face former champions Asec Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire.
“It feels so great to come here and win after that defeat in the first leg. It was a tough encounter but we created numerous chances that we failed to put away.
“I feel we could have won it in normal time although the penalty shootout had to decide the result at the end of the day.
“I am happy, though, because we managed to get a positive result and progress to the next round. That is what we wanted,” said Antipas.
Former Monomotapa striker Musharu put the Zimbabweans ahead in the 76th minute when he latched on to a cross from Gahadzikwa to cancel out Cnaps Sports’ lead.
Motor Action — M. Jani, P. Bernard, S. Mutenheri, T. Ndlovu, O. Mushure, E. Tembo, A. Gahadzikwa, I. Masame, W. Kupera (E. Perezo), K. Musharu, T. Nyamandwe (E. Chitato).