TP Mazembe 8-0 Club Africain
If anyone had ever begun to doubt the credibility former Africa club champions TP Mazembe after the shock 0-3 defeat away to Algeria’s CS Constantine last month, please think again if this big response with an 8-0 thumping of hapless Club Africain is anything to go by.
The Total CAF Champions League has a tendency of producing spills, thrills and everything in between including shock and controversial results and on Saturday’s it rewrote the history books with biggest ever group stage winning margin.
Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas’ 7-0 victory over CR Belouizdad of Algeria in 2001 was previously the biggest win, until the Mihayo Kazembe-led side pumped eight past their Tunisian guests in the Group C clash to rewrite the chapter of famous wins.
With the group reduced to three teams after the disqualification of Egyptian side Ismaily following their abrupt game with Club Africain two weeks ago in Ismailia; Mazembe had no chance than to win to stay in contention. And they did it in grand style.
In actually fact it would have been even bigger had precision taken centre stage..
This must be the first ever group stage match to produce three braces courtesy of Kevin Mondeko, Jackson Muleka and Tresor Mputu with Mika Miche and Meshack Elia contributing one each tothis this goal avalanche.
The hero of the day will be veteran Mputu who also produced a hattrick of assist before adding his name to the scoresheet and such is his experience contribution in this modestly assembled outfit.
Kevin Zatu Mondeko put the hosts in front before Mika Miche doubled the lead courtesy of Mputu’s two assists. Jackson Muleka made it 3-0, and Mondeko turned into a massacre with his second of the day which became the four for Mazembe.
Too powerful they had become at the breatherbreather.
After the break Muleka weighed in with his second of the afternoon before Mputu finally got his name on the score sheet. Meshack Elia got his goals share of this goals galore before Mputu completed the riot.
And this indeed was a kindest of a warning to any team that would seek to belittle TP Mazembe.
The two teams will again square off in Match Day 4 in Tunisia.
@NoelMunzabwa
