Darryl Nyandoro scored the winning goal for Monomotapa against Etoile

Zimbabwean champions Monomotapa caused a huge shock on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel in the African Champions League.

The hosts took the lead in the Group B game in Harare after just two minutes through Daniel Kamunhenga, who took advantage to fire home when a defender failed to control the ball.

Then five minutes into the second half another defensive blunder lead to the equaliser for the 2007 champions as a Monomotapa player failed to head clear and Ahmed Akaichi was perfectly positioned to beat the stranded goalkeeper.

Etoile, who had controlled the first half, gradually lost the initiative and Darryl Nyandoro scored his first Champions League goal in the 64th minute by controlling the ball with his chest and firing into the net.

In the other Group B game, TP Mazembe of DR Congo beat Nigeria's Heartland 2-0 in Lubumbashi.

Tresor Mputu Mabi continued his goal scoring form with the opening goal just after half-time and Alain Kaluyitukadioko added the second 13 minutes from time.

On Saturday Sudanese clubs Al Merreikh and Al Hilal played out a goalless draw in their opening Group A.

In an exciting match, Hilal had the better of the first half, while Merreikh created more chances in the second period.

Merriekh fans were happy with the result, but the outcome favours Hilal, who were the away side.

In the other Group A game, Nigerian club Kano Pillars made a good start to their bid for glory with a 1-1 draw away to Zesco United of Zambia.

Zesco went ahead just before the break in Chililabombwe with a goal from Roger Kamwandi, but Hillary Chukwu equalised for Pillars with 13 minutes remaining.

The Nigerian club knocked out six-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt in the third round in May, in one of the biggest upsets in African club competition in recent years.

The top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals in October with the two-leg final scheduled for November.

The winners will represent Africa in the Club World Cup, in Abu Dhabi in December.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version