HARARE CITY FC progressed to the first round of the Caf Confederations Cup after staging a comeback against AS Adema of Madagascar in their Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round second leg tie away from home yesterday.
BY SPORTS REPORTER AS ADEMA . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1 HARARE CITY FC. . . . . . (0) 3
City midfielder Raphael Manuvire, the scorer of a brace in his team’s 3-2 win in the first leg in Harare two weeks ago, was on the score sheet once again claiming the visitors’ opener on 52nd minute, cancelling out Rahman Bernadin’s 43rd minute lead in the process.
Edwin Madhanaga put City in front on 65th minute before first half substitute Kuda Kumwala completed the comeback three minutes later to complete a 6-3 aggregate win.
Taurai Mangwiro [/Caption]
City will date Zambian side Zanaco in the first round.
Coach Taurai Mangwiro made changes to the team that played at Rufaro Stadium a fortnight ago with Raymond Uchena and Munyaradzi Dironyenye named in the starting lineup as full backs.
Madhanaga who started in defence in that match was pushed forward into midfield to play alongside Tendai Samanja, James Jam, Ronald Chitiyo and Manuvire while Francisco Zekumbawira started as a lone striker.
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The big centre forward lasted just 42 minutes before he was stretchered off with an injury and replaced by Kumwala.
It was City who started the match brightly in the searing heat of Rabemananjara, but could not fashion any meaningful attack with the Mauritius referee Dharamveer Hurbunhs calling for a water break after 30 minutes.
Adema got their first meaningful attack on 40th minute which resulted in a corner, but they could not trouble Tafadzwa Dube in goal for City from that set piece. The home side, who scored their two away goals from set pieces soon got another one just outside the City box when Dironyenye needlessly committed a foul and City were punished.
Manuvire could have equalised as the halftime whistle drew closer, but missed a sitter from close range and a minute later, Kumwala came even closer only to be denied by the crossbar with As Adema going to the break leading and on course for qualification to the next stage.
However, the Sunshine Boys had other ideas and it didn’t take them long to get back into the tie when the former ZPC Kariba man Manuvire scored his third goal of the campaign, making up for his glaring miss earlier on to give his side the all-important away goal.
Madhanaga made it two just after the hour mark and moments later, Kumwala killed off the match as a contest with a cushion goal.
Harare City FC line-up. Tafadzwa Dube, Munyaradzi Dironyenye (Gilroy Chimwemwe, 80’), Themba Ndhlovu, Ray Uchena, Arnold Chivheya, Edwin Madhanaga, Tendai Samanja, James Jam, Raphael Manuvire (William Manondo, 86’,) Ronald Chitiyo, Francisco Zekumbawira (Kuda Kumwala, 42’).
