FC St Eloi Lupopo sailed through to the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup after beating Rail Club du Kadiogo 1-0 in Kinshasa in play-off, second leg match at Stade de Martyrs on Wednesday.
The Rail men wrapped a 2-0 aggregate win courtesy of Jena-Marc Makusu Mundele’s goal in the 76th minute of the match.
Having won 1-0 away, Lupopo made it difficult for their opponents to come back and threatened to take the lead courtesy of dangerously looking attempts by Kazame, Bola and Kabangu.
Despite starting on a high in search of an early goal, the first 10 minutes could not produce goals as both sides battled it out in the heart of the park.
However, Adama Ouedrao missed a sitter in the 18th minute, an error by Mukawa saw the ball fall for the centre back, but Moumouni’s left-footed effort sailed wide.
Lupopo showed superiority towards the 30th minute and Milka combined with Bayanho whose effort at goal was parried away by Babayoure.
Although, Mukawa looked like he was on a holiday, he was called into action and produced a save in the 33rd minute when he swallowed Konvolbo’s shot from close range.
On the stroke of half time, the Congolese came close to breaking the deadlock, Zadio Kazadi failed to convert Kanbangu’s set piece.
Rail Club du Kadiogo immediately went on the attack and looked a lot more positive going forward than they were in the first. But again, Lupopo were lucky not to have fallen behind.
Some great work by Toure played Barro through on goal, only for a last-ditch tackle by a Lupopo defender to avert the danger.
The Burkinabes were putting real pressure on the Lupopo goals and had it not been for Issaka on the goal line, Lupopo should have been behind as the defender made a massive block to deny the away side.
Lupopo then came more into the game as the game grew older, and Babayoure called into action on the 67th minute as he made a smart save to push Makusu’s shot away from goal.
The home side pressure finally paid off as they found a way past Babayoure on the 76th minute of the game. Second-half substitute Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele, lit up the stadium when he expertly finished from close range after the goalkeeper spilled the ball to the former Kaizer Chiefs marksman.
Although, Rail du Kadiogo pressurized the Lupopo’ defence in the closing minutes it was a little too late as Lupopo held on to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
