CAFCL: Petro de Luanda earn massive first leg victory in Abidjan

Angolan champions Petro de Luanda are on the verge of a return to the CAF Champions League (CAFCL) group stage following Saturday’s 2-0 first leg victory in Abidjan against Ivorian champions Stade d’Abidjan.

A devastating counter-attack gave Petro the important breakthrough in the 82nd minute when Portuguese midfielder Benny Dias was left unmarked to finish. The former Benfica youth product made no mistake with his finish before Vanilson added one more goal deep into second half stoppage time.

Petro missed out on the group stage last season after falling to Congolese club AS Maniema Union at the final hurdle of qualifying. It appears that further investment in bringing in Portuguese talent like Benny and Pedro Aparicio as well as former Honduras national team playmaker Jonathan Rubio Toro will lift the Angolan league champions back onto the stage of Africa’s biggest club competition following Saturday’s result.

Stade d’Abidjan have plenty of work to do in the Angolan capital of Luanda, where Petro will host the second leg next Saturday.