Power Dynamos’ hopes of advancing further in the Champions League have been dashed after they lost 1-0 to Sudanese side Al Merreikh in the second leg of the preliminary round yesterday.
The result saw Power bow out 2-0 on aggregate after losing the first leg by the same scoreline, ending their hopes of matching or bettering last season’s run to the group stage.
The reigning Super League champions needed to score at least twice to overturn the deficit but struggled to convert their opportunities, with Al Merreikh eventually finding the breakthrough six minutes into the second half.
Fenohasina Razafimaro put the Sudanese side ahead in the 51st minute, leaving Power with a mountain to climb.
Power coach Osward Mutapa admitted the result was a tough one to take, saying his side knew what was required but were punished for failing to take their chances.
“Yes, we are out. Tough pill to swallow. We knew we needed to win today’s game for us to progress. We knew their strengths, but in the second half we conceded,” Mutapa said.
Mutapa, however, felt Power were eliminated by a good side and praised Al Merreikh for making his players work hard.
“For me, yes, we are out, but we were beaten by a good side. They had players that were able to make us run for our money,” he said.
The coach said the major difference between the two sides over the two legs was Power’s failure to score despite creating opportunities.
“On the two games, where we have lost it is not scoring. We had two good chances. If we scored in the first half, it is game on and gives us confidence going forward,” Mutapa said.
He said he was encouraged by Power’s ability to create chances and believed the team would eventually be rewarded if it could improve its finishing.
“We are a team that create chances. When you are creating chances, we are happy because we know that when you get it right, you will win,” he said.
Mutapa shifts focus to domestic league
Mutapa said Power must quickly put the disappointment behind them and focus on their domestic campaign, while insisting that he still has confidence in the squad.
“We have failed ourselves because we needed to build from where we left. We are out. Are we going to start regretting? I still believe we are the best,” he said.
“We’ve a very good squad. We don’t need any reinforcement. We’ve two strikers. We may add another one just to be comfortable with the squad.”
Mutapa said the team created several clear-cut chances in the second leg but again failed to take advantage of them.
“We did create clear-cut chances on three occasions, if I remember very well. At this stage of this competition, you will have problems. We did have chances in this game,” he said.
With the continental campaign now over, Mutapa said Power would turn their attention to the Super League.
“We still have the league to play. And we will still go back into training. We just have to work hard,” he said.
