Mazembe crash out of Champions League

by Staff Reporter

Saturday May 04, 2019. 17:32

DRC’s TP Mazembe crashed out of the CAF Champions League after playing to a goalless draw in the second leg of their semifinal match against Tunisia’s Esperance Tunis at the Stade Frederic Kibassa Maliba on Saturday.

The first leg of the semifinal in Tunisia last weekend saw Esperance run out 1-0 winners thanks to a solitary strike from Youcef Belaili. That result, combined with the 0-0 draw in Lubumbashi means the Tunisian side progresses into the final 1-0 in aggregate.

The opening half at the Stade Frederic Kibassa Maliba saw the side from DRC dominating matters and controlling the flow of play, but their decision making and finishing in the final third was horrendous.

In fact, Mazembe had 70 percent of the possession and a 10 shots on goal but only three of those were on target.

Esperance, in stark contrast, offered very little in attack and were lucky to get to the half time break all-square on the day.

The second half was more of the same as the home side continued to squander chance after chance in front of goal and were made to pay for that as they exited the competition.

Esperance will face Wydad Casablanca in the final of the CAF Champions League after they beat Mamelodi Sundowns by the same aggregate scoreline on Saturday.

The first leg of the final will take place on over the weekend of 24-27 May.

TP Mazembe (0) 0

Esperance Tunis (0) 0
Esperance won 1-0 on aggregate

Teams

TP Mazembe: Gbohouo, Mpeko, Kouame Koffi, Mondeko Zatu, Ochaya, Sinkala, Miche, Meschack, Mputu (Malango 52’), Kalaba (Likonza 81’), Muleka (Ushindi 85’).

Esperance Tunis: Ben Cherifia, Meskini, Dhaouadi, Chemmam, Ben Mohamed, Kom, Coulibaly, Badri (Lokosa 77’), Chaalali, Belaili (Jouini 82’), Khenissi (Ali Yacoubi 67’).