Azam see off stubborn Ferroviario
Azam FC Ivorian forward Kipre Tchetche (right) makes his way past Ferroviario defender Emidio Matsinhe during their CAF Confederation Cup first leg match at Chamazi Stadium. Azam won 1-0. Photo | Michael Matemanga
What you need to know:
Playing at the Chamazi Stadium, Azam recorded a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ferroviario de Beira of Mozambique.
Dar es Salaam. Kipre Tchetche’s first half strike ensured that Azam FC kicked off their CAF Confederation Cup campaign on a high note.
Playing at the Chamazi Stadium, Azam recorded a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ferroviario de Beira of Mozambique.
The victory, though narrow, gives the Joseph Omog’s boys an upper hand in the second leg planned for Maputo in a fortnight.
Yesterday’s win came barely a day after the country’s envoys in the African Champions League, Young Africans, destroyed Komorozine of Comoro 7-0 at the National Stadium.
Azam, who are featuring in the continental showpiece for the second straight year, began well with Ugandan forward Brian Umony and Tchetche combining to torment the visitors in the first quarter of an hour.
The visitors then came blazing midway through the first half with Antonio Mandava and Manuel Fernandes crafting some telling chances, but the Azam defence manned by Erasto Nyoni and Said Morad stood firm to clear all dangerous balls. Khamis Mcha went close to giving Azam the lead on the half-hour mark, but could not direct a through pass from Himid Mao to the yawning net.
Azam launched a number of attacks afterwards, but still the likes of Umony and Tcheche found it difficult to beat goalie William Manyatera. The end-to-end affair saw Ferroviarrio miss a couple of chances as the first half wore on.
However, four minutes to the breather, Umony, who is rediscovering his best form, threaded the ball through to the Ivorian who smashed it past a stunned Manyatera. The home team walked to the dressing rooms boasting a 1-0 lead.
After the resumption, Azam picked from where they had stopped with Mao, Kipre Balou and Tchetche terrorising the Ferroviarrio defenders in the first five minutes.
Azam lowered their tempo heading into the hour mark and it gave the visitors hope of scoring a crucial away goal.
Fernandes and Mario Sinamunda gave the Azam defenders a run for their money with their pace, but could not find the back of the net.
With 20 minutes to time, Azam appealed for a penalty after Emidio Matsinhe handed the ball in the area, but referee Mutaz Abdelbasit Khairalla did not approve it and the home side held on to the end.
