Dream start
Ascent Academy’s CAF Womens Champions League Cosafa Qualifiers’ campaign got off to a dream start yesterday following a 2-1 victory over Young Buffaloes of Eswatini in aGroup B opener at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.
The win has catapulted the Malawi ambassadors to the summit of the four-team group with three points. So far, they are the only side to have registered victory in the group as their closest contenders Botswana’s Gaborone United Ladies and UD de Lichinga of Mozambique, played out a goalless draw in an earlier match.
Young Buffaloes lie at the bottom without a point.
Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe beat Namibia’s Ongos FC 3-1 in a Group A opener on Thursday to be on top on better goal difference following a tie on three points with Zambia’s Green Buffaloes, who secured 1-0 victory over University of Western Cape (UWC) of South Africa.
Yesterday, Ascent drew first blood barely two minutes into the match when forward Faith Chimzimu meandered through a forest of defenders before coolly slotting into the back of the net, much to the delight of hundreds of ecstatic home fans in the 6 244-seater stadium.
However, it did not take long for the visitors to pull level. Ascent Academy defenders went to sleep for a moment in the 11th minute, allowing Young Buffaloes striker Tenanile Ngcamphalala to go one-on-one with goalkeeper Patricia Kachepa, who helplessly went the opposite direction as the ball flowed into an empty net.
Just when it appeared the match could go into recess at one-all, player-of-the-match Alephar Chimbeta put the Malawi ambassadors back in the lead in the 45th minute. She lurched onto a loose ball in the box before drilling it past the approaching Buffaloes goal-minder Gcinile Dlamini.
The Malawi national champions dominated play in the second half, but they failed to convert the numerous chances they created.
They could not score more even after the visitors were down to 10 players in the 83rd minute after forward Simangele Sikhondze was red carded for a foul on midfielder Leticia Chinyamula.
Ascent’s next fixture is tomorrow against Mozambique’s Lichinga from 3pm. They will complete their group matches on Tuesday with a clash against Botswana’s Gaborone United.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals scheduled for August 22 while the final is slated for August 24 with the eventual winner set to represent Cosafa at the CAF Womens Champions League finals alongside defending champions South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Women.
Ascent coach Thom Mkolongo said he was very happy that his youthful side, with an average age of 18, secured victory in the group opener.
“It is a big morale booster to win our first game on the international stage and this gives us confidence ahead on our next fixture. We dedicate this victory to the cheerful home fans, who gave us a big motivation,” he said.
Young Buffaloes coach Fisiwe Hlophe said they didn’t come to the party yesterday.
“Conceding in the first five minutes distabilised us. We wanted to be the first to score,” she said.
