Silver Strikers earned a vital 1-1 stalemate with Malagasy side ASSM Elgeco Plus in the first leg of Caf Champions League at Cote d’Or National Sports Stadium in Saint Pierre, Mauritius, Sunday.
This means the Central Bankers have an advantage ahead of the second leg slated for Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday.
Silver need either a goalless stalemate at home or victory to progress to the second round of the Caf Champions League on away-goal rule.
But the tie is far from over as Silver can be eliminated if the match ends in a scoring draw of more than one goal.
In a match monitored on Facebook, the Central Bankers played with purpose and vigour after trailing 1-0.
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It was substitute Andrew Joseph who scored the equaliser in the second half to secure a vital draw for the Central Bankers.
Randriamanapisoa Tonny opened the scoring for the home side in the 13th minute of the match.
Tonny scored with a free header from Elgeco’s first corner of the match.
Silver Coach Etison Kadenge Mwafulirwa rued missed chances.
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“It was a game we should have won Unfortunately, we conceded a silly goal but, anyway, we thank the boys for their fighting spirit throughout the game,” Mwafulirwa said.
Mwafulirwa said his boys have an upper hand to proceed to the second round.
“We have an upper hand playing at home on a different surface and also in front of our supporters. We have an opportunity to win the match at home,” he said.
Silver will host Elgeco at BNS this coming Saturday, with the winner between the sides facing either Wiliete Benguela of Angola or Tanzanian champions Young Africans (Yanga) Sports Club in the second preliminary round.
Yanga are poised to progress to the second round of the competition following a 3-0 victory over Benguela in the first leg in Luanda, Angola
