TP Mazembe in Cecafa quarter-finals

By JAMES WAINDI in KIGALI, Rwanda

African champions TP Mazembe yesterday became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the ongoing Cecafa Club Championships with a laboured 2-1 win over Burundi champions Vital'O at the Nyamirambo Stadium.

Alain Kaluyituka scored the first goal in the 62nd minute through a penalty and midfielder Tresor Mputu added the second in the 67th minute with a volley from close range to give the DRC team a 2-0 lead. Super sub Mbakiye Beby Miami scored Vital'O's lone goal deep into stoppage time.

Despite losing the two matches in their group, Vital'O still have a chance of progressing to the quarter-finals if they comfortably beat Djibouti's Telkom in their final group match.

DREADED MAZEMBE

The Burundi champions had contained the dreaded Mazembe for the better part of first-half and could have been 2-0 ahead at half-time had they taken their chances.

Sensing danger, Mazembe coach, who had started with three key players on the bench, Mputu, Jean Kasusula and Mbenza Bedi, threw all the three into action in an effort to wrap up things.

The changes had an instant impact as Mputu broke through the entire Vital'O defence with his first touch of the ball, but his finishing was not accurate.

Alain Kaluyituka was brought down in the box by Divin Gateretse and he picked himself up to score from the spot, squeezing the ball past Vital'O custodian Amidou Hassan who seemed to have saved the shot.

Mputu added to the tally five minutes later with a left volley from Given Singuluma's cross for his second goal in two matches.

Vital'O pushed for goals but could not convert their numerous chances until second-half substitute Mbakiye tapped in Nkundwanabake's cross from close range in the 92nd minute. By the time of going to press, Rwanda champions APR were leading 2-1 in their match against Telkom of Djibouti.

Kayembe Mutambayi scored APR's first goal with a powerful header in the fifth minute, before Chiukepo Msowoya added the second three minutes later with a powerful volley.

Telkom's Yasin Ali pulled one back for the Djibouti champions, who suffered an 8-0 drubbing in the hands of Mazembe on Sunday.

Kenya champions Sofapaka face Tanzania champions Simba in an early kick off, before Uganda Revenue Authority play defending champions Atraco in the second match. All the matches will be at the Nyamirambo Stadium.

Source: The Standard | Online Edition