Full Time
Lesotho Defence Force 1 (Maseriti Mhololo 86’)
Ntopwa FC 1 (Vanessa Chikupira 45’)
Ntopwa Women’s FC on Wednesday afternoon gave away a 1-0 lead with four minutes to full time to draw 1-1 with Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) in the CAF Women’s Champions League|COSAFA Qualifiers opening match at Sugar Stadium in Durban, South Africa.
The Amagheto kids wasted a lot of chances including a penalty and should have easily carried the day.
Linda Kasenda and Vanessa Chikupira hit the cross bar in the opening minutes.
Funny Magombo had a chance to put Ntopwa in the lead after the referee awarded a penalty to the James Sangala side following a foul on Linda Kasenda in the box, but Magombo’s spot kick went off target.
Chikupira scored the opener in first half added time to give Ntopwat a 1-0 halftime lead.
LDF dominated the second half in search of an equaliser which they got with four minutes to full through Maseriti Mhlolo who capitalized on miscommunication between goalkeeper and her defence.
Ntopwa coach James Sangala said though the result was disappointing he was satisfied with the performance of his team.
“We are not very happy because it was an easy game for us but we made things very difficult for ourselves. I must however commend the girls for putting up a very good fight but fatigue caught up with them towards the end hence conceding in the dying minutes.
“Being debutants, we can always celebrate the first point that we have now and this is also a motivation as we go to the next group stage matches. Our plan is to qualify for the knockout stages and everything that happens after that is a bonus to us.
“We are facing defending champions in the next match and we have watched how they play. They are a very good side. But we will give them a good run,” said Sangala.
The second match between Green Buffaloes and Double Action ladies also ended in a one-all draw.
Ntopwa Lineup: Mercy Sikelo, Bernadetta Mkandawire, Lyness Mbera, Yamikani Mhango (Memory Chidetsa 65′), Funny Magombo, Kondawo Banda, Olivia Phikani, Vanessa Chikupira, Rose Alufandika, Saliva January, Linda Kasenda.
