Корого defeated АС ПСИ 2:0 in the first preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday evening. The hosts took control of the tie with a clean sheet performance at home. It was a straightforward victory that puts them one step closer to the group stage.
The result means Корого advances to the next round of the competition. АС ПСИ will have to reflect on what went wrong after drawing 2:2 in their previous encounter just days earlier. They had come from behind in that first leg, but could not maintain the same momentum here.
Those two meetings between the sides have been unpredictable. The September fourth fixture ended level at 2:2, with both teams finding the net. This time around the balance tipped decisively in favour of the home side. The away side failed to respond when it mattered.
Recent form has been mixed for both clubs. Корого lost 1:2 to Мун and 0:1 to СОЛ in May, but bounced back with a 2:0 win over Расинг Абиджан. АС ПСИ suffered consecutive defeats against УС Монастириенн, losing 0:2 and 0:1 respectively in August. Both sides have had uneven runs this season.
The tie is now decided in practical terms. Корого will travel knowing they have the advantage, while АС ПСИ must find a way to overturn the deficit. The preliminary round is supposed to be a test, and this result tells you where the stronger side stands.