South Africa’s Santos kept their Confederation Cup hopes alive thanks to a 1-0 win over Cameroon’s Sable Batie in Group B. An opportunist early second half goal from striker Carlo Scott made the difference, although afterwards Santos came under intense pressure and were lucky to hold on.
Scott netted after the Batie goalkeeper misjudged a cross from Edries Burton. As the ball rebounded off the crossbar, Scott pushed it into the net.
But after taking control, Santos had defender Kamaal Sait sent off by the Angolan referee for a second caution and leading Batie scorer Herman Dzumafo brought an excellent save from Wuest with a close range shot.
Group outsiders Sable then came close again when Wuest could only parry a shot into the path of Mbatchou – but his shot trickled wide with an empty goal at his mercy.
In the other match in Group B, Cameroon’s Cotonsport played out a drab goalless draw with Ghana’s Hearts Of Oak.
The result put Hearts Of Oak a point clear at the top of the table.
Meanwhile in Group A, wins for Enugu Rangers and Al Hilal left all four teams in the group separated only by goal difference.
Nigeria’s Enugu are top thanks to their 4-0 whitewashing of Angolan side Petro Atletico.
Oviasogie Osagie was the hero for Enugo, netting twice in the first half to give the team a commanding advantage they never looked like losing.
His goals on 17 and 32 minutes sandwiched an effort by Ebenezer Ojo on 26, before Okechukwu Odita rounded things off netting eight minutes before the end.
Two early goals were also the key to Al Hilal’s success in a 2-0 win over Ghana’s Asante Kotoko.
The Sudanese team went ahead in the 7th minute through Haitham Mostafa, and Dario Khan then scored on 21 minutes to ensure the win.
