Billiat and Musona inspire Scottland to 2-0 win over Petro de Luanda

Scottland took a major step towards the CAF Champions League group stages with a 2-0 first-leg win over Angola’s Petro de Luanda at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The Mabvuku side, playing in the competition for the first time, were given a huge early boost when Petro goalkeeper Hugo Marques was shown a straight red card after about 25 seconds. South African referee Abongile Tom sent him off for rushing out of his area and lunging at Panashe Mutimbanyoka.

It was reminiscent of Scottland’s first preliminary round tie against Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs in September, when their opponents also had a man sent off in the third minute. That match ended goalless after Scottland failed to capitalise.

Coach Norman Mapeza would have feared a repeat as his side struggled to break down a well-organised Petro defence. The visitors sacrificed midfielder Mario Barlbudia to bring on second-choice goalkeeper Maulucano and sat in a low block, clogging the midfield and allowing Scottland to have the ball.

Scottland dominated possession but lacked width, with Emmanuel Jalai ineffective on the right flank after being pushed into a more advanced role.

Maulucano, nervous early on, scrambled a powerful strike from Khama Billiat and was almost caught out again when Knowledge Musona attempted a lob that sailed just over the bar. The teams went into the break at 0-0 in front of a crowd capped at 10,000 by CAF.

Scottland returned unchanged for the second half and Billiat dragged a shot wide with the goalkeeper at his mercy. Mapeza then made the decisive change, introducing Walter Musona for Jalai and switching to more width.

The substitution paid off immediately. In the 66th minute, Walter Musona drew his markers wide on the right and delivered a brilliant cross that Billiat poked home to break the deadlock.

Scottland grew in confidence and doubled the lead 10 minutes from time. Billiat raced into opposition territory, drew two defenders to himself and slipped a pass to an unmarked Knowledge Musona. Substitute goalkeeper Maulucano appeared to save the initial effort, but the ball rebounded off his body and crossed the line.

It leaves Scottland with three games unbeaten in the competition, no goal conceded and a crucial two-goal advantage ahead of the return leg in Angola on Friday.

Mapeza admitted breaking down 10 men is never straightforward and praised Petro’s organisation, but said his veterans made the difference.

“Playing against 10 men is never easy. Such games are difficult,” Mapeza said.

“First half, we kept pushing. They looked very organised. There were so many guys in the back, and as I said, in the second half, I spoke to the guys not to try to attack through the centre. It was congested over there.

“Then we had to go through the flanks, and we got our goals, I think, through the flanks.

“So, you can tell that they’re very experienced. Because if we didn’t have that quality to bring on those crosses, maybe it was going to end up nil-nil.

“But we brought in Walter. I think he gave us what we were looking for.”

After the match, club president Scott Sakupwanya and Joachim Chivayo – brother to the late club benefactor Wicknell Chivayo, who died last month in a helicopter crash – rewarded the players with a US$150,000 bonus.

More: H-Metro