Democratic Republic of Congo-based midfielder Patrick Mwaungulu has taken the Vodacom League 1 National Championship plays-offs in that country by storm.
Apart from scoring in his second consecutive match for the Lubumbashi-based side in their 1-0 victory over Maneima Union at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa on Sunday, the Flames’ winger was also named player-of-the-match.
This was after scoring in his debut for Mazembe three days earlier when they lost 2-1 against Aigles Du Congo after a loan spell at Don Bosco.
Posting on his Facebook Page on Sunday night, Mwaungulu said he was excited to score the winner.
Wrote the 22-year-old wonderkid: “I am happy to feature on the score board in style, scoring a deciding goal in the dying minutes and recognised [being] as man of the match.”
With the match seemingly set for a goalless draw, Mazembe won a free kick on the edge of the box and Mwaungulu with his trademark set piece, curled the ball over a Maneima Union defence wall into the left corner of the net to send the defending champions supporters into frenzy.
Mazembe’s website www.tpmazembe.com described the victory as crucial coming after a loss to Aigles Du.
Reads the report: “The winning goal came from a free kick scored by Patrick Mwaungulu with three minutes left. A fitting reward for the attacking midfielder of the Ravens who was also named man-of-the-match
“A victory against a direct competitor following last Wednesday’s defeat gave more motivation to coach Lamine Ndiaye’s men, who showed character.”
The DRC top-tier league is played in two phases, the group stage and national championship.
Nine teams qualify for the play-offs from group stage, six from Group A and three from Group B.
The former FCB Nyasa Bullets player was signed by the former African club champions in August last year alongside forward Lanjesi Nkhoma, who also started, but was substituted in the 72nd minute.
The two players were loaned out to Don Bosco as they could not be registered due to a Fifa transfer ban.
But following the lifting of the ban, Mazembe have registered the two players.
While at Don Bosco, Mwaungulu made an immediate impact, scoring crucial goals, including one against his parent club Mazembe in a 2-1 loss.
Don Bosco finished sixth in the league’s Group A to qualify for the national championship play-offs.
