Zesco’s elimination from the CAF unanticipated
Dear Editor, Zambia’s envoys (former) in CAF Confederation Cup championship football tournament, Zesco United Football Club were eliminated by SuperSport United Football Club of South Africa via a 2-all goal aggregate in the two legs.
The match was played at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday September 23, 2017.
During this match, Zesco took an early lead through John Ching’ambu in the first half.
A few minutes later, SuperSport scored thereby bringing parity.
The match was tough as both teams attempted to score the second goal.
However, it was Zesco which hit the back of the net through Odhiambo Owino, making it 2-1 for the home side.
Zesco United consolidated the lead and it was clear that the Zambian envoys were at the verge of progressing to the semi-finals of this prestigious football tournament.
SuperSport equalised in less than a minute to full time in stoppage time.
The late minute goal and an equaliser shattered Zesco’s dream of sailing to the semifinals of the football tournament.
According to the away-goal rule in a football tournament, the goal scored by the team playing away from home counts twice.
This is what made SuperSport qualify to the semi-finals and Zesco booted out.
Zesco’s failure to defend the lead especially in the last minute of the match cost them the chance of qualifying to the semi-finals.
The best Zesco can do is to concentrate on the local premier league games.
In the first leg of the tournament, Zesco played to a goalless draw in South Africa a week earlier.
The elimination of Zesco via a 2 all draw was not expected considering that the team held on to a 2-1 lead until the last minute of the stoppage time.
The elimination of Zesco is indeed a bitter pill to swallow. Tough luck Zesco! ELEMIYA PHIRI, Lusaka