WING PLAY CAUSE HAVOC AMONGST THE EAGLES DEFENDERS
By Osward Hamanyuma Jnr | September 15, 2019
It was a very disappointing result from Aggrey Chiyangi’s boys who were defeated 2-1 at home by Angolan Premeiro de Agosto in the second round of the CAF Champions League played at Heroes stadium.
Chiyangi started Andrew Kwiliko and Gift Wamundila as his central defensive pairing with Samson Manyepa and Boston Muchindu playing left and right side of the defensive line respectively.
The fullback were kept busy throughout the match as Agosto opted to build their attacks from the flanks. The Agosto wingers are so quick and they caused much problems to Eagles fullbacks.
Muchindu looked so uncomfortable and lost in the left back position though he gained some confidence in the second half. The Agosto winger Luvumbu noticed how uncomfortable Muchindu was so he tried so hard to create something from this side of the pitch.
And their persistence paid off in the 29th minute, Eagles were punished from a corner kick, Andrew Kwiliko who was covering the near post misjudged that the goalkeeper came out to Collect the ball but it landed on the feet of Striker Mabululu Palienzia who took the chance with both hands.
Eagles Midfield made up of Chilupe, Silwimba Sautu and Shamenda was not efficient in their passing of the ball, they gave away possession so cheaply and misplaced so many passes. Overall the Kawale boys were utterly poor in the opening 45 minutes.
Whatever the coach told his boys during half time break, Green Eagles were a whole different team in the second half and many wondered why they didn’t play with such hunger and authority in the first half.
They were a better side in the second half, they knocked the ball round the pitch and kept on asking the Premeiro de Agosto goalkeeper questions but he was so outstanding, he produced some acrobatic saves to keep the scoreline at 1-nil but Amity Shamenda low and soft hit shot into the bottom corner was to good for him as Eagles equalised in the 77th minute.
That goal gave Eagles confidence such that they committed so many bodies forward in search for a winner and it nearly came when George Chaloba long range effort hit the crossbar.
The Kawale boys were defensively unconscious as they were looking for a winning goal, all they wanted was to score a second and that costed them when D’Agosto launched a counter attack through Kilá Ngukulikama, he drifted up the field from the left flank he cut inside then scored.
The match is not yet over, there is still 90 minutes to decide who will go through to the group stage but Eagles blew up their chance at home. It won’t be easy playing in a stadium without supporters though they managed to frustrate Orlando Pirates in South Africa.
The key thing will be scoring as early as possible in Angola to frustrate the home team and silence the fans, an early goal will change the dynamic of the match. The loser in the return leg in will drop to the second tier of the continental showpiece.