Horoya AC 2-0 FC Platinum

CONAKRY, Guinea – FC Platinum let in two second half goals as their hopes of qualifying for the CAF Champions League knockout stages were extinguished on Tuesday evening.

FC Platinum needed to win to stay in the competition but once again they failed to score in their fourth straight match at the Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry.

After Charles Sibanda had seen one fly over before drawing a good save from the hosts’ goalkeeper, Horoya skipper Ocansey Mandela drove a sword into the visitors’ hearts when turned in a header from a freekick after 58 minutes of exchanges.

Mandela’s effort took a deflection off Sibanda and fooled Platinum shot stopper Petros Mhari.

Mhari was at fault for Horoya’s second. Yakubu Hudu broke clear on the left and his attempted cross appeared to be carried goalward by the wind. Mhari was already off his line anticipating a cross and he watched in horror as the ball swerved wickedly into the net.

The defeat left Platinum stuck on one point in Group B, seven adrift of leaders Esperance of Tunisia. With the win, Horoya climbed to second with seven points, two ahead of South Africa’s Orlando Pirates who lost 2-0 away to Esperance on Monday.

FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza rued the mistakes that led to the two goals.

“We made two mistakes and got punished. At this level, you cannot afford to make such mistakes. It’s a learning curve for us, and now we have to make sure that we do our best in the last two games,” said Mapeza, whose side will play Orlando Pirates in Johannesburg and Esperance at Barbourfields in their final two outings.