TP Mazembe has secured their spot in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Semi-Finals following a 2-1 victory on the road against Petro Luanda of Angola.
Despite a goalless draw in Lubumbashi, Jonathan Toro's early goal seemed poised to propel the Angolan side to their second-ever TotalEnergies CAF Champions League appearance. However, a resurgent Mazembe turned the tide in their favor after halftime, staging a remarkable comeback away from home.
As anticipated, the Angolan champions dominated the early stages of the match, launching attacks orchestrated by the skilled Pedro Miguel from midfield.
In the 9th minute, danger loomed as Jonathan Toro unleashed a powerful volley narrowly missing the target, much to the relief of the visiting team. However, Toro made up for it in the 29th minute, clinically finishing a well-taken strike to give his side the lead.
As the match appeared to be heading for a home victory, Philippe Kinzumbi stunned the crowd with a brilliant turn, unleashing a low shot past Hugo Marques to equalize in the 82nd minute.
The goal served as a wake-up call for the hosts, who had already begun celebrating and were pushing forward in numbers. However, their aggressive approach backfired when Joel Beya shattered the hopes of the Angolan side with a late strike in stoppage time, securing a 2-1 victory for Mazembe.
This sets up an exciting semi-final clash between Mazembe and reigning champions, Al Ahly. The two-legged affair will see the first leg hosted by Mazembe on April 19, followed by the away fixture on April 26, determining which team will advance to the finals.
