Football: Caf Confederation Cup   Maturity wins it for Motema Pembe   |18 October 2022

A more mature and consistent Daring Club Motema Pembe (DCMP) had the edge over Seychelles side Saint Michel United in Kinshasa on Sunday, winning 2-0 and qualifying for the next stage of 2023 Confederation of African Football Confederation Cup on a 2-1 aggregate score.

St Michel had won the ‘home’ leg of theirsecond preliminary round tie against the Congolese from the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 on neutral ground in Mauritius a week earlier but could not replicate that performance in the away leg on Sunday at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte.

In a match played behind closed doors, the Congolese took the game to St Michel from the first whistle and scored a goal in each half for the 2-0 victory, denying the visitors the chance of becoming the first Seychelles team in history to make it past the second preliminary round of an African club football competition.

During a pre-match press conference on the eve of the game both coaches said they had properly analysed the first game and had worked on strategies for their teams to win.

As it turned out the Congolese were more mature and better able to execute their coach’s strategies than Ralph Jean-Louis’ players.

The Seychelles side started in a 5-3-2 formation that could be transformed into 2-3-5 when attacking. A priority in coach Jean-Louis’ strategy was not to concede an early goal while that of the Congolese was to score one early.

Showing more competence and surer of themselves, the hosts bombarded St Michel relentlessly from the start with the Seychellois goalkeeper and defenders clearing as they could.

It was no surprise that a goal came as early as the 12th minute through striker Jonathan Ikangalombo after some fumbling in the goalmouth by the St Michel defenders as they tried desperately to clear.

Having pulled level on aggregate, the tempo of the game slowed down a bit but the Congolese attacks kept coming although at longer intervals. St Michel could maneuver with a bit more ease but had no clear chance at goal for the remainder of that half.

With the score remaining 1-0 for DCMP and 1-1 on aggregate, St Michel were still in it as a goal would have meant that the Congolese would have had to do it all over again and score twice.

That most important goal that would have changed the course of the game nearly came shortly after play had resumed for the second half. After some brilliant passing from midfield Neil Confiance found himself loose on the right flank. As he skillfully made his way across towards goal, he brilliantly evaded the challenge of the last DCMP defender and goalkeeper who, sensing the danger, had rushed off his line.

Confiance placed his shot towards the far post but to the dismay of the St Michel camp, who had already started celebrating, the ball agonisingly rolled centimetres wide, almost clipping the foot of the left post.

As the St Michel camp was still reeling in disbelief, Anry Pierrot nearly stole the limelight three minutes later with St Michel’s second and last clear attempt at goal during this half.

Motema Pembe pulled themselves back together and stretched their lead to 2-0 with a 78th minute strike byPlatini Mozinzi Mpiana.

Even being led 0-2 that all important away goal would have sufficed for St Michel. Losing 1-2 would have meant a 2-2 draw on aggregate and they still would have qualified on the away goals rule.

However, it was not to be. Motema Pemba kept pushing forward in search of a more comfortable cushion, but their attempts failed to reach the target while St Michel’s counter-attacks fizzled out.

Despite the defeat the general feeling was that St Michel had put up a brave fight considering that Motema Pembe were more mature at managing such situations in a competition of this nature.

Coach Jean-Louis told the Congolese media after the match that he believed his team had put on a good show despite everything.

“Motema Pembe were the better team today but as you would have seen, my players never gave up. With more experience at this level, they would have been able to manage the situation and game better and the outcome could have been different,” he said.

St Michel travel back to Seychelles today and will arrive tomorrow afternoon via Ethiopian Airways.

The following players received yellow cards.

St Michel: Julio Brown 20th, Gillio Lenny Suzette 32nd,Nigel Hoareau 47th,Marlyn Ravoatrarilandy 61st, Kenner Ricky Nourice 74th.

Motema Pembe:  J. Ikangalombo 12th.

Contributed