Goals from Nelson Munganga, Mechak Elia and Jonathan Bolingi gave the Leopards a 3-0 lead before the break as the Angolans were punished for their sloppy defending.a
The Congolese were on fire from the very beginning, making clear their intent against an Angola side that had to avoid yet another defeat to remain in contention.
The result takes the Leopards on the brink of qualification for the quarters, depending on the outcome of the other Group C match later between Cameroon and Ethiopia at the same venue.
A blunder by Angola goalkeeper Landu Mavanga gifted the 2009 winners the lead after eight minutes. Mavanga spilled a Merveille Bope header from a corner and Munganga slotted in for the opener.
Teenager Mechak doubled the lead on 18-minutes finishing off a Bolingi assist with a shot past Landu.
Landu, who appeared jittery in the opening minutes pulled a superb save to deny Mechak his second minutes later, but failed to stop Bolingi’s low shot from close range on 37 minutes, allowing the Congolese to go into the break with a three-goal lead.
The Leopards resumed with the same momentum and Bolingi saw his header from a Mechak cross come off the post five minutes into the second half.
Jacinto Dala ‘Gelson’ gave Angola a lifeline by reducing the deficit on 76-minutes – finishing a through pass from Adriano Duarte ‘Yano’ from a counter.
TP Mazembe midfielder Bope restored his side’s three-goal lead with a looping header past Landu eight minutes from time before Yano grabbed the consolation goal for Angola minutes later.
– African News Agency (ANA)
