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Yanga concede last minute equalizer in Mali in Confederation Cup

Fiston Mayele in action for Yanga against Real de Bamako. PHOTO/Yanga
  • Yanga drew 1-1 with Real de Bamako
  • They were heading to a 1-0 win away from home
  • They remain second in Group D

Tanzanian giants Yanga conceded a last gasp equalizer, as they played to a 1-1 draw with Malian side Real de Bamako in their third Group D match of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Wanajangwani were headed for a massive 1-0 win away from home for a second consecutive freekick, but poor concentration in defending from a setpiece saw them share spoils on enemy territory. Defender Emile Kone netted the equalizer with a neat header at the near post.

Yanga had gone into the lead on the hour mark through Fiston Mayele. The Congolese forward picked the ball at the edge of the area before turning and shooting low on his left foot.

It was a brilliant away goal for Yanga and a massive confidence boost, coming in after last weekend’s brilliant home performance which saw them beat TP Mazembe at home.

The game didn’t have many chances. In the first half, the closest was Yanga’s Kennedy Musonda whose shot from distance came off the outside of the post. Bamako’s only chance on target was off a Makan Samabaly freekick that was punched away by the Yanga keeper.

In the second half, Yanga dominated much of the play with Mayele being a constant threat upfront, until he got his goal. The Tanzanians however could not defend the result to the end.

The result sees Yanga remain second in Group D with four points while Bamako are bottom with two points from back to back draws.

Monastir remain top after stunning Mazembe

Meanwhile, Tunisian side US Monastir remained top of the group after picking a huge result away from home, stunning under-fire Mazembe 2-0 in Lubumbashi in the other group match.

Mazembe suffered their second successive defeat, after going down last weekend away to Yanga, and the result at home leaves them third in the standings with three points from their opening win at home against Real de Bamako.

Mazembe, pushed by the partisan home crowd started the match with some pressure high up the Monastir backline, but they couldn’t make it count for goals.

For the missed opportunities, they were punished just six minutes after the restart when Boubacar Traore hit the back of the net off an Haikal Chikhaoui assist.

The hosts made changes bringing on attacking potent with the introduction of Adam Bossu and Glody Likonza but still, they couldn’t make chances count in the final third.

Monastor make most of their chances 

Once again, Monastir made the most of their chances and they put the game to bed in the third minute of added time through Ziad Alawi who pounced on a rebound after the keeper spilled a ball.

With the group at the halfway mark, Mazembe, five-time winners of the CAF Champions League and three-time winners of the Confederation Cup are under pressure to turn things around.

For the next round of matches, they will take on the Tunisians up north in a quick turnaround, in a match they have to win to keep their quarter final hopes alive.

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