Goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela was the unexpected two-goal hero as Platinum Stars of South Africa this weekend booked a CAF Confederation Cup play-offs place. The 31-year-old converted two penalties in a 3-1 victory over Vipers of Uganda that overturned a 1-0 away loss in the last-32 tie. Mzimela, who also scored from a spot kick in a midweek South African FA Cup victory, put Stars in front after only two minutes. Ndumiso Mabena doubled the lead from a fiercely struck freekick before half-time in northwestern mining town Rustenburg. Milton Karisa scored for Confederation Cup debutants Vipers on 55 minutes to nudge his club in front on the away goal rule. Mzimela had the final say, however, converting another penalty a minute into stoppage time to rescue the South African club. Ulinzi Stars of Kenya overcame having a player sent off to whip Smouha of Egypt 3-0 in Machakos, but still exited the African equivalent of the Europa League. Smouha advanced 4-3 on aggregate having built a commanding first leg lead in Alexandria last weekend. Samuel Onyango scored twice in the opening half for the Kenyan armed forces side, which was reduced to 10 men on 55 minutes when John Kago was red-carded. Undaunted, Ulinzi grabbed a third goal 13 minutes from time through Omar Mbongi and rattled Smouha survived several late scares. Kenyans Jesse Were and David Owino scored for Zesco United of Zambia, which booked a play-offs place by drawing 2-2 with Le Messager Ngozi of Burundi in Bujumbura. — AP
