Zanaco left moaning after stoppage time defeat

by Staff Reporter

Monday Feb 14, 2022. 11:00

Zanaco coach Kelvin Kaindu is hurting after seeing his side lose in stoppage time away to CS Sfaxien in Tunisia on Sunday evening in their opening 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup Group A match.

The Zambian club lost 1-0 via a penalty in the dying minutes of the five minutes of time added-on to the record three-time CAF Confederation Cup champions in Rades in a match Zanaco defended for most of the 90 minutes.

“It is painful to lose with the last kick of the game.  We came out a bit strong and we were tactically organized but not very offensive,” Kaindu said.

“We didn’t create so many chances at the opponents’ goal but in the case of defending, we were tactically disciplined.”

Walid Karoui came close to giving Sfaxien the lead in the 40th minute but failed to connect with a Mohammed Ben Ali’s cross after ghosting behind Zanaco’s defence on the far post.

Aymen Harzi later saw his 65th effort parried by Zanaco goalkeeper Lameck Siame in the 65th minute in what was generally a sparkless affair.

Zanaco then paid the price for time wasting particularly Siame’s theatrics in added-time when Ben Ali’s ball hit Peter Kalota’s hand and referee Kalilou Traore pointed to the spot.

Harzi stepped up to convert the penalty and seconds later Traore blew for full-time.

“It is just at the last minute where we gave away a penalty,” Kaindu said.

“It was a fair game, you can play against Sfaxien and hold them for 45 minutes and we were also holding them for the rest of the 90 minutes but they scored in extra -time.”

After match-day-one, Sfaxien lead Group A on 3 points, Zanaco are bottom and on zero points together with Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya who lost 2-1 to leaders Pyramids away in Cairo on the same date.

Zanaco will host Pyramids next in Lusaka on February 22.