Scottland FC edged Nsingizini Hotspurs 1-0 at home, but the tie remains finely balanced ahead of the second leg.
The game was shaped early when Nsingizini were down to 10 players in just the 5th minute. Defender Kingsley Kwakyi received a straight red for a two-footed tackle on Chidolo. Even with the extra man, Scottland found it tough to unlock a disciplined Nsingizini backline before halftime.
Cameroonian attacker Neville Tengeg joined the fray at half time
The breakthrough came after the interval. Cameroonian attacker Neville Tengeg, introduced at halftime, injected pace and spark into the host’s front line. He netted the winner in the 66th minute. Fellow substitute Ziocha, who replaced Kharma and Mutimbanyoka alongside Tengeg, also added impetus and helped create opportunities that were lacking in the first half.
Scottland head coach Norman Mapeza conceded that playing against 10 men was not easy. He said his side did not capitalize fully on home advantage and let two clear chances slip, but was satisfied to take a lead into the return match. Scottland will now travel to Mbabane with a 1-goal advantage, aiming to seal progress.
For Nsingizini, coach Mandla David said the early dismissal forced a tactical shift and left his team under sustained pressure. Despite the defeat, he insists the contest is far from over. With the next game at home, he is confident his players can respond, correct errors, and fight to overturn the deficit.
With only one goal in it, the return fixture in Mbabane will decide who goes through.
