CAPS United..... (1) 2

USM Alger...... (0) 1

RONALD Chitiyo's magical brace helped CAPS United secure a crucial home win as the Harare giants beat visiting USM Alger of Algeria and blow open their group in the CAF Champions League campaign.

Makepekepe, who had lost their opening match against Zamalek in Egypt two weeks ago, put up an amazing performance with an incredible fighting spirit befitting the stage.

The Harare giants were rewarded with goals in both halves although the Algerians had threatened to spoil the day for the home team with a late second half equaliser.

But Chitiyo's brilliance kept the Green Machine in the hunt considering that the other match between log leaders Zamalek and Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya had ended in a stalemate the previous day.

The diminutive linkman opened the scoring with quarter of an hour played and the Algerians, who were always looking dangerous with the aerial balls because of their height, equalised through Ayoub Abdellaoui’s header with 67 minutes on the clock.

But with nine minutes of regulation time remaining, Chitiyo ensured maximum points with a sublime piece which was as brilliantly executed as the first strike.

Makepekepe established themselves on third place after two games in the group standings with three points in the bag as they look to capitalize on home advantage again next week when they host Al Ahli Tripoli while Zamalek and ESM Alger cancel out each other in Egypt.

CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe said he was not surprised by his side’s performance yesterday. He wants his side to build on yesterday’s victory to assert themselves in Group B.

“We were looking forward to getting a very good result and I am happy we managed to get the result that we wanted.

“At the moment we are taking each game at a time. We know we have very difficult games to play because we are still to play Al Ahli Tripoli; we are still to host Zamalek and to travel to Tripoli and Algeria. So it’s still a long way to go but I’m very happy with the result,” said Chitembwe.

Makepekepe charmed even the neutrals at the giant facility yesterday with a hearty display which matched their coach’s declaration before this big game.

Chitembwe had promised to take the game to their fancied opponents and his charges delivered on the big stage despite coming from two losses in their previous encounters against Zamalek and local rivals ZPC Kariba.  

“You can’t fault them for lack of desire or determination. It’s not so easy to win games at this level of the competition unless your team can provide exactly that. Today the result was obviously a perfect result of determination and desire,” said Chitembwe.

Makepekepe survived an early scare when winger Abderrahmane won possession on the right flank and rolled the ball in front of goal only for Kaddour Beldjilali to direct his effort wide at the back post.

But after Abbas Amidu had failed in his bid to chip the goalkeeper from the counter-attack soon afterwards, it was not so with Chitiyo when he was presented with the opportunity to prove the football genius in him.

Makepekepe had pinned the visitors in their goal when the ball fell onto his feet with a cluster of players between him and the goal. Chitiyo, full of composure and simplicity, fired Makepekepe ahead when he neatly placed the ball into the bottom corner of the nets with a shot struck with great finesse.

The former Harare City and Dynamos midfielder was then involved in a neat exchange with Moses Muchenje and released Tafadzwa Rusike who skied his effort from a distance.

Makepekepe nearly celebrated their second of the afternoon when Amidu poked the ball home at the near post from a cross by Ronald Pfumbidzai but far side assistant Gustave Baguma of Burundi had his flag up for offside.

Alger nearly went on the interval level when Denis Dauda failed to track his man but the Oussama Darfalou’s cracking shot was denied by the woodwork.

The 2015 Champions League runners up came back from the breather more determined and had Makepekepe on the backfoot forcing Edmore Sibanda to make a good save from Abderaoup Benguit close range effort and stopping a header from Darfalou inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

But after soaking the pressure, Sibanda also gave the Algerians a huge scare with one of his trademark freekicks, struck from a distance with power and precision. Goalkeeper Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche had to summon his best reflex to scramble the ball out for corner.

Alger, who returned to Zimbabwe with bad memories from the 4-1 mauling by Dynamos on their last visit to Harare in 2011, had appeared to have found the way to hit back when defender Abdellaoui jumped the highest in the box to plant a firm header behind Sibanda.

But just as some of the pessimists had lost hope, Chitiyo turned the hero when he collected the ball at the edge of the box, picked his spot and fired home the winner.  

USM Alger coach Paul Put said conceded defeat although he felt his charges played well and had deserved a point.

“We were not really in the game. We had some chances but we couldn’t utilise them. The difference came from the efficiency of the teams.

Teams

CAPS Utd: E. Sibanda, H. Zvirekwi (K. Nyamupfukudza, 74th min), J. Jangano, R. Pfumbidzai, D. Dauda, D. Chafa, M. Muchenje, R. Chitiyo, T. Rusike, A. Amidu, P. Bamusi

USM Alger: M. Zemmamouche, Meftah, T. Zegdane (M. Benmoussa, 59th min), A. Abdellaoui, F. Chafal, H. Koudri, A. Benguit, K. Beldjilaji, A. Meziane (G. Guessan, 84th min), A. Andriamahitsinoro, O. Darfalou (M. Benkablia, 57th min)