Chronicle Editor
Don Makanyanga in Kinshasa,DRC
AS Maniema 0-0 Ngezi Platinum Stars
ZIMBABWE representatives in the Caf Champions League, Ngezi Platinum Stars’ sojourn in the continent’s top-tier club competition suffered a stillbirth as they were booted out of the competition by DRC side As Maniema after a penalty shootout.
After playing to two goalless draws in two legs of the preliminary round Ngezi Platinum Stars were knocked out of the Champions League with a 4-3 penalty defeat at Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa yesterday.
Polite Moyo and Gareth Madhake failed to convert Ngezi Platinum Stars’ fourth and fifth penalties after Farai Madhananga, Kudzai Chigwida and Tinotenda Murasiranwa converted.
It was a difficult pill to swallow for Takesure Chiragwi and his charges.
The young coach described the defeat as a painful one.
“It is a hard defeat and painful to go out of the tournament through the penalty shootout. The players put in some hard work and I can feel their pain.
“On a positive note I am happy with the performance of the boys over the two legs and going into a penalty shootout is like a gamble in which either side can win,” said Chiragwi.
After putting up a dominant first-leg performance a week ago in Zambia, it was a different ball game altogether in the return leg yesterday as AS Maniema dominated the game in the first-half and were unlucky not to have scored.
It took the resilience of the platinum miners’ defence to keep the hosts at bay.
Ngezi Platinum had few goal-scoring opportunities during the match, with a golden chance coming in the fourth minute of added time when Obriel Chirinda broke loose on the left flank only to have his effort blocked by an AS Maniema defender.
Online Reporter