TP Mazembe returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-1 victory over AF Anges Verts in their eighth Ligue 1 Play-Off match on Friday, May 23, 2025.
The win, which ended a run of three consecutive defeats, offered the Ravens a brief reprieve and a potential boost in their quest for a higher finish in the standings.
From the outset, Mazembe displayed a renewed sense of urgency.
The attacking trio of Bongeli, Mujaya, and Kabwit consistently applied pressure, with Bongeli forcing an early corner in the 8th minute.
Despite several opportunities, the finishing touch eluded the visitors until the 23rd minute when Senegalese goalkeeper-turned-penalty-taker Faty stepped up and calmly slotted home from the spot.
The goal—Mazembe’s fifth of the campaign—gave them a deserved early lead.
Just before the interval, the Green Angels hit back.
In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Talasi rose unmarked at the far post and headed in the equaliser—his seventh goal since returning from the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
His finish brought the home crowd to life and ensured both sides entered the break on level terms.
Mazembe, however, emerged from the dressing room with renewed determination.
Barely seven minutes into the second half, Ndongala reclaimed the lead for the visitors with a precise strike from a tight angle.
The Ravens capitalised on their momentum just three minutes later when Ibrahima Keita burst into the box and unleashed a thunderous effort under the crossbar, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
In a rapid burst of attacking brilliance, Mazembe had firmly seized control of the match at 3-1.
The remainder of the game was marked by sustained intensity, near misses, and heroic goalkeeping.
MPIA made a crucial stop in the 79th minute to keep his side within reach, while Faty—already on the scoresheet—put in a courageous defensive block in the 84th minute, sustaining an injury in the process.
Anges Verts pressed in the closing moments, with late efforts from Miniko in the 90+2 minute and Zon in the 90+3, but neither could alter the outcome.
With the win, Mazembe climbed to fourth place with 13 points.
Their hold on that position remains tentative, pending the outcome of VClub’s match against Kibasa Maliba on Saturday.
VClub, currently one point behind with a game in hand, could still overtake them in the standings.
