TP Mazembe Win 3rd CAF Super Cup through Ghanaian Star
Ghana’s Daniel Nii Adjei goals were all TP Mazembe needed to beat Etoile du Sahel 2-1 on Saturday in Lubumbashi for their third CAF Super Cup.
The Ghana-import headed ‘Les Corbeaux’ into the lead after 19 minutes before doubling the lead with a spectacular half volley on 45 minutes, whilst Mohamed Msakni pulled one back for the Tunisians on the stroke of half time.
It was the third time Mazembe had won the annual one-off match after 2009 and 2010, and also extending the dominance of the winners of the CAF Champions League in the encounter that pits them against the winner of the second-tier continental club championship, CAF Confederation Cup.
It was a game of two halves, Mazembe having the better of the first half and the visitors, the second.
Ivorian goalie Sylvain Gbohouo got the nod to start ahead of veteran Robert Kidiaba and he did not disappoint either pulling some superb saves that kept the tie in favour of the five-time African champions.
His Ivorian compatriot Roger Assale had the first attempt at goal firing wide on 13 minutes, as the Tunisians laboured in search of their rhythm.
Six minutes later, a three-man involving Assale, experienced left-back Jean Kasusula and Adjei gave birth to the opener. Assale started the assault with a pass to Kasusula, who laid a perfect cross that met the head of Adjei past Etoile goalie Aymen Mathlouthi.
On 33 minutes, Etoile were dealt a severe blow when defender Rami Bedoui sustained an injury and had to be replaced by Brazilian Acosta.
On 45 minutes, Adjei doubled the lead from yet another cross by Kasusula. The left back laid a cross into the Etoile defence and Jonathan Bolingi headed to Adjei, who fired a half volley that went into the top corner of the net.
In added-on time, Msakni scrambled home from a goalmouth action following a corner to give the Tunisians some glimmer of hope just before the break.
Etoile resumed stronger and pinned the hosts to their half and they survived several scary moments from the opponent.
Gbohouo pulled a superb save on 76 minutes from a Ammar Jemal goalbound header from a corner, in what was the best moment of the Tunisians in the second half.
Both sides effected changes with Mazembe coach Hubert Velud handing teenage sensation Elia Meschak his debut in dying embers of the game but his presence could barely add to the scoreline.
Credit:SIG
