ZESCO United (0) 0

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
(Mmodi 2’)

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, Group D
Levy Mwanawasa stadium, Ndola, Zambia

A very early goal from Pule Mmodi, his first of the season, earned Kaizer Chiefs a well-deserved 1-0 win over ZESCO United at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola, Zambia on Sunday afternoon, to record their first-ever victory against Zambian opposition in a competitive fixture.

It was also Amakhosi’s first win in Group D of the competition, which sees then on four points after three games at the halfway point of the phase, with Zamalek and Al Masry set to meet later in the day.

Amakhosi made a blistering start to the match and were ahead with less than two minutes gone after ZESCO goalkeeper, Philip Sakauta, made a hash of fumbling Mfundo Vilakazi’s off-target shot behind his goal line. From the resultant corner, Flavio Da Silva headed against the upright and the ball fell kindly into the path of Mmodi, who tapped it into the net from close range.

There was little flow to the early stages as ZESCO adopted a robust, aggressive approach to trying to prevent the much slicker Chiefs passing from being effective, and the match was littered with free kicks and some jostling among the players.

The hosts gradually played their way into the game and it became a fascinating midfield battle between two proud clubs.

ZESCO opted for long balls towards target-man. Amine Hiver and almost put the burly Belgian striker in behind the Chiefs defence in the 20^th minute, but for an excellent recovery clearance by Inacio Miguel

Five minutes later, Lebohang Maboe slipped Da Silva in behind but like Miguel a few minutes prior, Kabaso Chongo made a last-ditch tackle to save his team.

Chiefs comfortably saw out the remainder of the first half and went into the interval with a deserved 1-0 lead.

ZESCO threw everything at Chiefs in the second half in an effort to prevent a third straight defeat in the competition but lacked the cohesion and technique to construct any meaningful passages of play and could not break down a far better organised Chiefs outfit whose coordinated pressing manoeuvred the men in orange down blind alleys away from danger.

In a consummate away performance, Chiefs protected their lead well and managed the game through to the end, with Brandon Petersen not called upon to make a serious save, but for a smart move to come off his line to foil a late attack as Emmanuel Manda burst through in the box.

Another win and another clean sheet will give the team the confidence to go into Wednesday’s Betway Premiership clash against Marumo Gallants in a positive mood before they turn their attention to the return tie against ZESCO in Durban next weekend.

Line-ups

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen © (1); McCarthy (35), Miguel (14), Kwinika (4), Solomons (18) (Monyane (2) 46’), Maboe (6) (Mabaso (34) 67’), Ndlovu (8), Mmodi (13), Vilakazi (28) (Shabalala (7) 61’) Mayo (3) (Lilepo (19) 46’), Da Silva (32) (Baartman (11) 79’)

Subs not used: Bvuma (16); Mako (29), Msimango (25), Velebayi (17)

Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze

ZESCO United: Sakauta (40); Chepeshi (30), Chongo © (5), Kampamba © (7), Hiver (9), Siankombo (17) (Manda (16) 46’), Ganter (18) (Mwanza (22) 40’), Chabala (26), Mulenga (19), Musukuma (28) (Asoumou Obame (20) 40’), Chilongoshi (39)

Subs not used: Nonga (10), Luka (15), Mayembe (21), Mkandawire (23), Mkhonta (25), Omondi (33)

Coach: Mathews Ndhlovu