Scottland 1-0 Nsingizini
HARARE — Tengeg Neville struck in the second half to give Scottland a slender advantage over Eswatini champions Nsingizini Hotspurs in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie on Sunday.
The match at the refurbished National Sports Stadium was the first international fixture hosted by Zimbabwe in five years, after the Confederation of African Football lifted a ban imposed on the venue in 2021 following extensive renovations.
Nsingizini were reduced to 10 men as early as the third minute when defender Kingsley Kwakyi was shown a straight red card for an open-studs challenge on Moses Shidolo.
It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for the visitors from then on as they absorbed wave after wave of Scottland attacks.
Neville, introduced at half-time for Panashe Mutimbanyoka, came close to breaking the deadlock on the hour mark, but his header brushed the top of the crossbar.
The Cameroon forward was not to be denied moments later, firing home Emmanuel Jalai’s cutback to finally break Nsingizini’s resistance.
Neville could have doubled the lead in the 80th minute after rounding the Nsingizini goalkeeper Sibusiso Dlamini, but he failed to find the target with an off-balance effort.
Scottland could have taken a more commanding lead into the second leg but were made to settle for a one-goal advantage.
Veteran Knowledge Musona was not involved after a fallout with coach Norman Mapeza during Scottland’s goalless draw with FC Platinum last week.
Musona was unhappy after being substituted in that match and made his displeasure known to Mapeza, refusing to shake the coach’s hand.
Scottland will carry their narrow lead into the second leg in Manzini next weekend.
Mapeza admitted afterwards that his team had struggled to break down a Nsingizini side that spent almost the entire match defending with 10 men.
“If you look at our performance in the first half, after they got that red card, I thought we were going to do better. But I think they were very solid,” Mapeza said.
“They looked very, very organised at the back. And when you’re playing a team which is sitting deep, it’s very important to be more creative, especially in the final third. But that creativity wasn’t there, especially in the first half.
“We created a little bit, but it wasn’t enough. In the second half, we made those changes during the break, and I think we really started to play.
“But usually, playing against a 10-man team, it’s very difficult because those guys will fight for their lives.
“At the end of the day, we won. I’m happy, but I think we could have done better. We had two good opportunities, especially in the second half. We were talking of 3-0, maybe 2-0.
“But look, it’s a win. I’m grateful. Then it’s for us to make sure we sit down and plan properly as we continue with this journey when we go to Eswatini.”
If you have the Nsingizini goalkeeper’s name, I can slot it in and also sharpen the headline/intro for a more punchy ZimLive treatment.
