CAF Confederation Cup: Likuta Strike Downs Berkane

A solitary goal from William Likuta secured a 1-0 win for Daring Club Motema Pembe over RS Berkane in a CAF Confederation Cup Group C clash at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.

Isaac Ngata’s side closed the gap to one point against the Moroccan side who remained top of the group after matchday five of the Confederation Cup.

Vinny Bongonga nearly opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a delightful flick, which drew a fine save from Zouheir Laaroubi.

Momentum remained with Berkane thereafter as Motema showcased defensive discipline instead with a number of bodies behind the ball.

Motema Pembe undoubtedly missed the best chance of the half when Doxa Gikanji beat the offside to go level with Issoufou Dayo in added time, but the effort went wide of the far post.

Berkane regained the advantage at the start of the second half, but Amine El Kess, in particular, failed to trouble Barel Mouko with a smart shot in the 50th minute.

In the 69th minute, Motema Pembe took the lead when Likuta magnificently volleyed home a ball over the top of the Berkane defence from Ikoyo Iyembe, 1-0.

Mukoko Amale nearly doubled Motema Pembe’s lead five minutes into the second half, but his stinging 24-yard shot shaved the wrong side of the post.

In the 78^th minute, Aamale was in the thick of the action again and actually struck the woodwork of the Berkane’s goal with a shot from the edge of the box.

A minute later, the visitors nearly levelled the matters when Mohammed Aziz fired a powerful 20-yard shot goalwards, but Laaroubi produced a great save after diving low to his left to make the fingertip stop.

Berkane threw players forward in the final ten minutes of the match, but Motema Pembe soaked up the pressure and held on for the famous win.

How they lined up:

Motema Pembe: Barel Mouko (GK) ,Mukoko Amale ,Ikoyo Iyembe ,Enoch Inonga Baka ,Enock Mangindula ,William Likuta Luezi ,Dezy Mbomba ,Doxa Gikanji ,Bayindula Nkonga ,Junior Abou Kone ,Vinny Bongonga

RS Berkane: Zouheir Laaroubi (GK) ,Omar Namsaoui ,Issoufou Dayo ,Ismail Mokadem ,Mohamed Aziz (C),Amine El Kess ,Youssef Zghoudi, Larbi Nadji ,Bakre El Helali ,Alaeddine Arjaei ,Djibril Cheick Ouattara