Five-time African champions TP Mazembe suffered a round of 32 exit in the CAF Champions League for the second consecutive year on Saturday.
The Congolese giants fell 2-4 on penalties to Vipers Sports Club, after the tie ended 0-0 on aggregate.
Having held the Ugandan champions to a goalless stalemate in Kampala last weekend, Mazembe needed to utilize their home advantage but the failed.
Franck Dumas’ charges should have been at least 2-0 up within the first 15 minutes of the game as they dominated and exerted pressure on Venoms – creating clear cut chances in the process. Having scored for goals in his last four domestic league matches, John Kakata came close to making it five goals in as many games when his shot was spectacularly saved by goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza.
Mudekereza was in great form in the first-half – looking unbeatable between the sticks. Congo’s finest keeper produced a fine low save to deny Soze Zemanga from a one-on-one situation, before blocking a low shot from Kakata from close range as pressure mounted on the visitors.
However,Vipers finished the first half the stronger of the two teams with keeper Siadi Baggio forced to react quickly and block Lumala’ snapshot from inside the hosts’ box. The Ravens shot-stopper then pulled off arguably his best save of the season when he fantastically finger-tipped Yunus Ssentamu’s effort which was heading into the top left corner and the score was 0-0 at half-time.
Vipers sat back and absorbed pressure from the hosts, who created several chances. Djos Issama’s direct runs from the left flank were unsettling the visitors’ defence, but his final product was poor as he hit the side-netting from close range, before miscuing his shot with only Mudekereza to beat.
Mudekereza was called into action for the first time after the restart by Tandi Mwape following some great work by Glody Likonza. The attacking midfielder won back possession in the Vipers’ box, before quickly setting up Mundeko, whose low shot was superbly saved by the former FOC Bukawa Dawa reserve team shot-stopper.
The attack-minded duo of Rainford Kalaba and Mujaya were introduced by the hosts towards the end of the game. The last real chance of the match fell for Kalaba, but the 36-year-old striker was let down by his poor first touch which allowed Mandela to make a vital block inside the visitors’ box and the encounter ended in a 0-0 draw.
The two sides had to settle for a nerve-wracking shootout that saw defender Tandi Mwape and attacking midfielder Glody Likonza miss their attempts to send the Congolese to the last 16 of the prestigious tournament.
Mazembe will still have the opportunity to fight for Confederation Cup crown after missing the last season’s final where they were eliminated at the semifinals by winners RS Berkane.
