Supersport United of South Africa set African Confederation Cup records when they humiliated Red Star of Seychelles 9-0 in the second round at the weekend.
It was the biggest match-winning margin since the competition, modelled on the European Uefa Cup, was introduced last year. The 13-1 aggregate score was also a record.
Supersport overtook Cimenterie Lukala of the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose 5-0 first leg win and 8-0 overall success against CO Bouafle of Côte d’Ivoire in the first round last month set the standard.
Red Star coach Jeremia Mosa blamed goalkeeper Andrew Valentin for a 4-1 first-leg loss on the Indian Ocean island and replaced him with Patrick Asba for the return match in Johannesburg.
But the move backfired and Asba was replaced by Valentin when understrength Supersport stormed into a six goal lead before half-time in the South African commercial capital.
Displaying the benefits of playing in the more competitive African Champions League last year, Supersport exhibited a ruthlessness often missing from South African footballers fond of crowd-pleasing tricks.
Tsweu Mokoro led the goal romp with a hat-trick and peroxide blonde Daine Klate, Koena Mathope and Abram Raselemane scored two each against opponents foiled by substitute goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands when they threatened to score near the end.
St Eloi Lupopo will face Supersport in the third round next month after a 2-0 win over Botswana Defence Force in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Lubumbashi.
Jeannot Wisakenge brought the clubs level on aggregate with a 16th-minute goal on a pitch notorious for its hard, dusty, uneven surface, and Mbuyu Twite settled the tie by scoring five minutes from full-time.
All seven former holders of African titles in the field advanced, with Union Douala of Cameroon having the closest shave as they pipped Cimenterie Lukala 1-0 in the Atlantic city of Douala to win the tie on the away goal rule.
Philippe Belinga was the hero for Union, the 1979 African champions, scoring after 23 minutes at Reunification Stadium to add to his goal in the 2-1 first leg loss in Kinshasa.
Al-Merreikh of Sudan shrugged off a two goal, first leg loss to Uscafoot in Madagascar by winning 3-0 at home to set up a clash of former Cup Winners Cup holders against Arab Contractors of Egypt.
The Egyptians belied their second-division status by coming from behind to defeat Banks of Ethiopia 3-1 in Cairo through goals from Antar al-Sherbini, Ayman Zain and Alaa Abdel Ghani after a goalless first leg.
Ismailia completed an Egyptian double with a 2-0 home victory over Mozambican visitors Ferroviario Maputo in Alexandria. Mohammed Abougreisha and Ahmed Fathi scored in the first half for the 1969 African champions.
Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers of Nigeria and Stella Abidjan of Côte d’Ivoire were the other former titleholders to progress, each team scoring three times at home.
After holding Kamsar in Guinea, Bendel won 3-1 through goals from Jude Okoye, Sunday Okoh and Imudu Doyin. Nduka Ozokwo, Edward Ofere and Anyanwu Nnaemeka were on target in a 3-1 win for Enugu over Sony Ela Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.
Paul Digba, Samba Diabate and Arsene Toualy scored as Stella triumphed 3-0 against AS Douanes of Togo, who took a slender advantage into the second leg of the West Africa derby. — Sapa-AFP