Simba rue missed chances in defeat to Horoya

• Simba, suffered a 1-0 defeat away from home
• Pape Ndiaye scored the winner but also missed a penalty
• The second round of group stage fixtures will be played next weekend

Tanzanian giants Simba suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Horoya in Conakry, Guinea, in their opening group match of the CAF Champions League, but should blame themselves for failing to take the myriad of chances that came their way.

Horoya had to live the last quarter of an hour on the edge of their seats, especially after Pape Ndiaye missed his penalty as Simba mounted pressure on them. Ndiaye had scored Horoya’s opening goal in the first half.

For the Guineans, the victory sees them sit second in the group behind Morocco’s Raja Club Athletic who thrashed Vipers SC of Uganda 5-0 in their opening match on Friday.

“Our opponents played well. Our players seemed to be tired because of the travel. In the second half we made changes to play high in their half and I am happy with how we played,” Simba SC coach Roberto Oliveira said after the match.

Coach Robertinho rues missed chances

Action between Simba and Horoya. PHOTO/Simba SC

“We missed three opportunities inside the box and we really played well. I was happy with the second half performance. I think I have an opportunity in the next match because we play at home. If we can play the way we reacted in the second half, it will be great,” added the coach.

The home side got into the lead after 18 minutes when an unmarked Ndiaye nodded home a header from the far post off a well delivered corner from Amadou Djibo. They were dominant and should have gone to the break two up but they couldn’t bury the chances that came their way.

Five minutes into the second half, they had another golden chance when a deflected cross found Djibo at the back post, but he could not land his header on target with a gaping goalmouth. On the other end, Simba had a chance when Clatous Chama curled in a freekick, but the keeper turned it behind for a corner.

Manula saves penalty

Simba keeper Aishi Manula saves Ndiaye’s penalty. PHOTO/Simba SC

In the 72nd minute, Horoya should have closed out the game from the spot after Joash Onyango had handled inside the box, but Ndiaye saw his penalty saved by Aishi Manula.

From then on, Simba mounted the attack with Chama striking the ball over from close range in the 75th minute before substitute John Bocco dinked the ball wide one on one with the keeper.

Horoya keeper Moussa Camara made a brilliant save with seven minutes left to keep out a header from Sadio Kanoute before Bocco had another chance blocked from inside the box.

Simba’s efforts to earn a draw on enemy territory were not successful and they now switch their attention to next weekend when they host the high-flying Raja in Dar es Salaam while Horoya travel away to Kampala to take on Vipers.

Raja started their campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Vipers of Uganda and Simba will be keen to ensure they don’t suffer the same wrath when they play at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.