The return leg matches of the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League were played across the continent on Saturday April 13, 2019.
Five time champions TP Mazembe showed no mercy to Tanzanian giants Simba FC in Lubumbashi.
The visitors did not hide their intentions, as they tried to make amends to John Bocco’s missed penalty in their first leg 0-0 draw.
Simba’s Ugandan International striker Emmanuel Arnold Okwi rounded Mazembe’s 30 years old Ivorian international goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo to open the scoring in the second minute of the game.
TP Mazembe are a different team at home and they did not panic, Pamphile Mihayo’s men got the equalizer through their 27 years old Zambian defender Kabaso Chongo at the 23rd minute of the game. The home side took the lead before half time through 22 years old Congolese forward Meschak Elia Lina.
Congolese forwards Tresor Mabi Mputu and Jackson Muleka who were both silenced in the first leg came to live in front of their home supporters in the second half.
Mabi Mputu scored Mazembe’s third at the 62nd minute before Jackson Muleka rounded the scoring at the 75th minute to give TP Mazembe an emphatic 4-1 home win against their Tanzanian opponents. The Congolese booked their place in the semifinals with 4-1 aggregate score.
In Alexandria, eight times winners Al Ahly could not stage an improbable come back against 2016 winners Mamelodi Sundowns. Coach Martin Lasaarte’s men had to overturn a five goals deficit haven lost 5-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria. Coach Pitso Mosimane’s Sundowns kept their shape and made sure they did not concede any other goal apart from Walid Azarou’s 68th minute header. Sundowns certainly lost the game 1-0, but the 5-0 hammering back home made sure they progressed on a 1-5 aggregate score.
Defending champions Esperance of Tunis kept their hopes of retaining the retaining the title alive with a 3-1 home win against CS Constantine from Algeria. 25 years old Tunisian attacking midfielder Saad Bguir made sure coach Moine Chabaâni’s men had an easier return leg game with a well taken free-kick at the 23rd minute and doubled their lead at the 27th minute.
Congolese attacking midfielder Dylan Bahamboula tried to stage a late fight back for Algeria outfit by pulling one back for coach Denis Lavagne’s charges at the 62nd minute, but experienced Cameroon international midfielder Franck Kom restored the two goals lead for the home side at the 86th minute. With a 2-3 win in the first leg in Algeria, Esperance qualified on a 6-3 aggregate score.
Despite the huge resources put at the disposal of Horoya of Guinea by their President Antonio Souaré, they were still unable to overcome the quarterfinals huddle against an experienced Wydad of Casablanca.
After a heroic 0-0 home draw against the 2017 champions, coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa and Horoya came into the return leg game with high hopes against a Wydad team that had been struggling for goals. Ocansey Mandela and his teammates found no answers to what their hosts brought to the contest. 24 years old Moroccan attacking midfielder Walid El Karti opened the scoring for the home side at the 20th minute and doubled their tally ten minutes later. 23 years old former Morocco under 23 right back Abdelatif Noussir made it three for Wydad at the 34th minute.
Wydad’s top scorer before this game with three goals, 27 years old defender and dead-balls specialist Mohamed Nahiri at the 59th minute made it four for his fourth in the competition before Zouhair El Moutaradji made it five for the home side with no reply from their visitors.
The semifinals promises fireworks with all four teams left in the competition haven lifted the trophy at least ones, with 11 trophies amongst them.
Three times champions Esperance of Tunis will face five times winners TP Mazembe in the semifinal while 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns of Pretoria will take on two times winners Wydad of Casablanca.
Muambo Edward.
