Bedi earns historic win for African champions

TP Mazembe beat Pachuca 1-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup on Friday to set up a semi-final with Internacional.

African champions Mazembe crashed out of their inaugural appearance at the tournament back in 2009, losing to Pohang Stealers of South Korea and New Zealand side Auckland City.

But there was no repeat of that disappointment, with a 1-0 win over Mexican side Pachuca handing the DR Congo’s Mazembe their first Club World Cup victory.

Mbenza Bedi grabbed the only goal after 20 minutes at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Pachuca, making their third appearance at the tournament, are old hands at the Club World Cup.

With more than a hint of complacency, Argentine coach Pablo Marini left first-choice striker Edgar Benitez on the bench, and he was caught out by Mazembe’s strong start.

Given Singulama headed narrowly over from a Miala Nkulukata cross early on, before Singulama tested the reflexes of Pachuca’s Colombian international goalkeeper Miguel Calero, who was forced to palm away a shot after a fine solo run.

Pachuca hit back with chances falling to Braulio Luna and Alejandro Manso, but it was the African side who grabbed the all important goal.

Mulota Kabangu played the ball cleverly into space, allowing an onrushing Bedi to beat Calero and find the net courtesy of a deflection off the keeper.

It might have been 2-0 at half-time but for another Singulama effort that went narrowly wide.

Manso was unlucky not to score when his first-half effort flirted with the goal-line, but he was guilty of squandering two opportunities to equalise after the restart.

Benitez was eventually introduced in the 57th minute, but was unable to force the break through that Pachuca so badly needed.

Despite going down to 10 men after the dismissal of Stoppila Sunzu for a second bookable offence in the 81st minute, the African side held on.