Fiston's opener not enough as KPL side bows out of continental football

Sofapaka were on Saturday bundled out of Caf Confederation Cup at the preliminary stage after crashing to a 2-1 loss to FC Platinum of Zimbabwe in the return leg match at the Mandava Stadium, Zvishavane.

The defeat saw the Kenyan Domestic Cup champions tumble out on a 4-2 aggregate having suffered a similar defeat in the first leg at home a fortnight ago.

Needing to win by a two-goal margin to advance to round one of the competition, the Sam Timbe-coached side started brightly under the warm conditions, going in front in the fourth minute through danger man Abdoul Razak Fiston.

The Burundian international's goal put the home side under immense pressure as the visitors continued to launch waves of attack.

However, the hosts slowly found their way back into the game, putting the 2014 GOtv Shield Cup winners on the back gear after they pushed hard for an equaliser at the quarter mark through Walter Mtasa.

At 1-1, action continued to swing from end to end with each side showing the desire to shake the net at the 15,000 seater.

It was however, Platinum, who always looked dangerous on the break, that pulled the killer blow nine minutes after the interval through Wisdom Mutasa.

NGOMA'S MISS

Earlier, in the 27th minute, the hosts had spurned another chance to punish the Kenyan representatives when Raphael Muduviva raced clear to find Donald ‘Dombo’ Ngoma whose shot narrowly missed the target.

The victory is a short in the arm for the Zimbabweans who are making a second stab at continental club football after a debut appearance in 2012 when they were eliminated at the preliminary stage.

With the victory, FC Platinum have now set up a two-leg blockbuster with Tanzanian giants Yanga, who navigated their way to the first round with a hard fought 3-2 aggregate win over Botswana representatives Defence Forces FC.