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Leopards fail to finish off Action

BLACK Leopards coach Vladislav Heric says he is happy with their 1-all draw against Zimbabwe's Motor Action in the first leg of the CAF Confederations Cup at the weekend.

Leopards allowed Action back into the game by conceding a penalty with six minutes remaining after their skipper, Mongezi Bobe, was adjudged to have handled in the box.

Heric said a draw was better than a defeat, but based on their first-half performance they should have scored more, which would have made their task in the return match in two weeks in Zimbabwe easier. Heric said

"We were impressed by the boys' performance as compared to the way we played against Orlando Pirates in a league match last week," The match against Motor Action afforded our boys an opportunity to combine well and gain more experience. We believe that through matches of this nature even our boys' level of maturity will rise.

"We are well aware that the draw will indeed make our lives difficult in the return match because we have to win since a goalless draw will sink us.

The match has also laid a solid foundation as we prepare for our tough league match against Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday at Peter Mokaba Stadium."

Action coach Joey Antipas said an away draw was like a victory to them because they would finish off Leopards in the second leg.

"The fact that we were able to hold them to a draw despite the fact that we were minus three experienced players, who missed the match because of passport problems, we will have no mercy on them,"Antipas said. "We will also make full use of our home turf advantage because we have good support at home. We hope that our boys will be razor sharp in the second leg because the Leopards match was our first competitive after the festive break.

Vincent Xakane scored Leopards' goal in the 72th minute from Khethokwakhe Masuku's well-taken corner kick.

Godfrey Moyo leveled for Action in the 84th minute.

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