Petro hold slight lead 27.01.2007
Cortesy by Namibiasport
Petro Atletico beat Civics 1-0 in their African Champions League first round first leg encounter in Luanda on Saturday evening.
It was a great performance against the Angolan champions, who had several of Angola's 2006 World Cup players in their squad.
The only goal of the match came about five minutes after halftime when an Angolan midfielder beat the defence and shot at goal. Civics' keeper Sitali Mulife did well to block the shot, but an Angolan pounced onto the loose ball to put the rebound into the net.
With a bit of luck Civics could even have managed a draw.
Striker Geoffrey Roman missed two chances, while midfielder Tugela Tuyeni also missed a chance at goal. Fine team effort.
NFA official Titus Kunamwene, who accompanied the team, said that Mulife, Franklin April in defence and William Chilufya in attack played well for Civics, although it was an overall team effort.
"The team played well as a unit. Towards the end Brian Brendell and Tugela Tuyeni were replaced by the youngsters Eusebio Fredericks and Ruben Soreseb, who both did well," he said.
Kunamwene said that the Angolan coach was wary of the return leg.
"I spoke to him after the match and he said that he did not expect such a performance from Civics. He was a bit skeptical about the return leg," Kunamwene said.
He added that Civics hoped to have injured striker Floris Diergaardt back for the return leg on February 10, as well as defender Amos Shiyuka, who traveled with the team to Luanda, but did not play due to a niggling injury.