Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club fell away 1-0 to FC Platinum of Zimbabwe during the African Champions League first round, first leg match played at National Sports Stadium in Harare on Wednesday afternoon.
Perfect Chikwende scored the all-important goal in the first half that gave the Platinum Boys the needed advantage ahead of the second leg set to be played in Dar es Salaam early next year.
Simba looked dangerous on transition in the opening quarter of the game, but it was their goalkeeper who made the first notable save, with Aisha Manula tipping away a goal-bound shot direct from a free kick by Ngala in the 10th minute.
Seven minutes later Platinum went ahead through a brilliant goal. Chikwende broke away from a well orchestrated counter-attack before slotting the ball into the bottom far corner.
It could have been 2-0 in favour of the hosts in the half an hour mark as Bello played in Ngala, but the latter wasted the opportunity with Pavari waiting for the pass to tap into an empty net.
Simba had the first chance of the second half. Meddie Kagere delivered a free-kick into the box. Clatous Chama rose above and headed it towards Pascal Wawa at the back post who managed to head it at goal but Mhari had the near post covered.
The Tanzanians were threatening on counter-attacks and Miquissone came close too to reducing the deficit five minutes later with cracking strike from range that rattled the crossbar.
Platinum continued to get the better chances as Manula pulled off a crucial save in the last eight minutes to deny Ilunga in a one-on-one situation.
Simba were pressing for an equalizer and came too close to grab the leveler but the chance went begging. The ball was delivered inside the box and Platinum defense failed to clear, Hassan Dilunga had the chance to put the ball into the empty net, but it hit the side net.
How they lined-up:
FCP XI: Mhari, Mbweti, Stima (Chikore 72′), Mhlanga, Madzongwe, Bello, Pavari, Banda, Kutsanzira (Ilunga 89′), Chikwende, Ngala (Kawondera 60′).
Simba SC XI : Manula, Chama, Kapombe, Hussein, Onyango, Wawa, Mkude, Nyoni, Dilunga, Kagere, Miquissone.
