Sports / Soccer
Motor Action off to a disastrous Caf start
31 Jan 2011 at 00:48hrs | Views
Motor Action 0
Cnaps Sports (0)1
Motor Action's debut in the Caf Orange Champions League soccer campaign got off to a disastrous start following a subdued performance that saw them fall to Cnaps Sports of Madagascar at Rufaro Stadium Sunday.
Substitute Yvan Rajoarinanana scored the all-important goal in the 92nd minute with a moment of brilliance when he waltzed past a cluster of four hesitant Mighty Bulls defenders before slotting past a marooned Marlon Jani in goal for the hosts.
Motor Action were on the defensive from the start and their biggest undoing was their rigid midfield of Edward Tembo and Allan Gahadzikwa who could not hold their fort, while Isaac Masame on the wing was just terrible.
The Mighty Bulls defenders also didn't help matters as they, for the better part of the game, tried to bypass the midfield by pumping long balls upfront and expecting the striking pair of Enasio Perezo and Tawanda Nyamandwe to work magic but the strategy failed dismally.
The absence of Charles Sibanda and Bheki Ncube was also felt.
Motor Action's only meaningful attack in the first half was in the fourth minute when Perezo shrugged off the challenge of defender Tahina Randianaso before squaring the ball to former Eagles winger Gift Phiri whose shot was blocked by Cnaps goalkeeper Ndrianiparany Anatole.
The Indian Ocean islanders went close to opening the scoring in the 42nd minute when ageing defender Themba Ndlovu was beaten by an awkward bounce but striker Jimmy Tigana scooped his effort over the bar with Jani beaten.
The second half was better for the hosts as they passed the ball around and the coming-in of Kuda Musharu injected some life into the team with his darting runs on the wings but his decent crosses came to naught as the well-drilled Cnaps defence marshalled by the impressive Analo Andoniania remained intact.
With the hosts probing forward and throwing numbers upfront and leaving gaps at the back, there was always danger that they would be punished on the counter.
With the lifeless game seemingly heading for a stalemate, there was need for someone to produce a moment of brilliance and it came from substitute Rajoarinanana who collected the ball just outside the opposition's box and ran past four hesitant defenders before squeezing the ball past Jani from an acute angle.
Tembo's miscued last-minute shot that swayed way past the goal area defined the overall performance of the Mighty Bulls yesterday.
Cnaps Sports (0)1
Motor Action's debut in the Caf Orange Champions League soccer campaign got off to a disastrous start following a subdued performance that saw them fall to Cnaps Sports of Madagascar at Rufaro Stadium Sunday.
Substitute Yvan Rajoarinanana scored the all-important goal in the 92nd minute with a moment of brilliance when he waltzed past a cluster of four hesitant Mighty Bulls defenders before slotting past a marooned Marlon Jani in goal for the hosts.
Motor Action were on the defensive from the start and their biggest undoing was their rigid midfield of Edward Tembo and Allan Gahadzikwa who could not hold their fort, while Isaac Masame on the wing was just terrible.
The Mighty Bulls defenders also didn't help matters as they, for the better part of the game, tried to bypass the midfield by pumping long balls upfront and expecting the striking pair of Enasio Perezo and Tawanda Nyamandwe to work magic but the strategy failed dismally.
The absence of Charles Sibanda and Bheki Ncube was also felt.
The Indian Ocean islanders went close to opening the scoring in the 42nd minute when ageing defender Themba Ndlovu was beaten by an awkward bounce but striker Jimmy Tigana scooped his effort over the bar with Jani beaten.
The second half was better for the hosts as they passed the ball around and the coming-in of Kuda Musharu injected some life into the team with his darting runs on the wings but his decent crosses came to naught as the well-drilled Cnaps defence marshalled by the impressive Analo Andoniania remained intact.
With the hosts probing forward and throwing numbers upfront and leaving gaps at the back, there was always danger that they would be punished on the counter.
With the lifeless game seemingly heading for a stalemate, there was need for someone to produce a moment of brilliance and it came from substitute Rajoarinanana who collected the ball just outside the opposition's box and ran past four hesitant defenders before squeezing the ball past Jani from an acute angle.
Tembo's miscued last-minute shot that swayed way past the goal area defined the overall performance of the Mighty Bulls yesterday.
Source - Byo24NEWS
