Looking for Soccer News?
FC Platinum 1-0 Simba SC: Zimbabwean outfit get slim advantage over Tanzanian giants
FC Platinum 1-0 Simba SC: Zimbabwean outfit get slim advantage over Tanzanian giants
Wekundu wa Msimbazi will need to win the second leg 2-0 to qualify for the group stage of Africa's club elite competition
Simba SC have fallen by a solitary goal in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League against FC Platinums of Zimbabwe.
Perfect Chikwende scored the only goal to give his team a slight advantage ahead of the second leg.
The 21-time champions came into the match hoping to get at least a draw and stand a better chance of winning the second leg at home. The Tanzania Mainland League champions qualified for the second preliminary round after a 1-0 aggregate win over Plateau United of Nigeria.
On the other hand, Platinum made it to the next round on a 4-1 aggregate win after eliminating Costa De Sol of Mozambique. The Zimbabwean champions won the first leg played in Maputo 2-1 before claiming a 2-0 win in the return leg played in Harare on Saturday.
The Msimbazi-base side came into the match without the services of the injured Aishi Manula and the sick John Rafael Bocco.
In the absence of Manula, the Belgian coach Sven Vandenbroeck will start Ben Kakolanya between the posts while Rwanda striker Meddie Kagere will step in for Bocco.
The East African outfit looked a more dangerous side but failed to capitalise their chances.
However, it was the Zvishavane-based side who scored in the 17th minute courtesy of Perfect Chikwende.
Simba intensified their attacks in the second half. In the 68th minute, Chris Mugalu teed the advancing Larry Bwalya. The latter unleashed a good strike that was destined for the back of the net but the goalkeeper pulled a fantastic save to deny him.
Mugalu thought he had equalized in the 75th minute but the assistant referee had his flag up for offside. He, later on, squandered a big chance when a cross from the right found him unmarked but he narrowly missed the target.
The Tanzanian champions will now need a 2-0 win in the second leg to make it to the group stages of the annual competition.
Last season, Simba failed to make it past the preliminary stage after losing on the away goal rule to UD Songo of Mozambique.
The second leg is planned for Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on January 5 or 6, 2021.
