Medeama SC suffered a 1-0 defeat to TP Mazembe in the first leg of their CAF Champions League First Preliminary Round tie at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa on Sunday.
The Ghanaian champions delivered a spirited and competitive performance against the Congolese giants and appeared on course to take a valuable result into the return leg.
However, a late strike from substitute Lise Ntumba Nyembo proved decisive, giving TP Mazembe a slender advantage ahead of next week's second leg in Lubumbashi.
The visitors created the first significant opportunity of the match in the 33rd minute when Chadrack Bingi-Belo found space inside the Medeama penalty area. His header from a free-kick, however, lacked the necessary precision and was comfortably gathered by Medeama goalkeeper Felix Kyei.
Medeama responded positively and soon had an excellent chance to break the deadlock. Dominic Amponsah found himself in a promising position from close range, but TP Mazembe goalkeeper Marc Diouf produced an impressive save to deny the hosts.
Medeama goalie Felix Kyei was called into action once again shortly before the interval, producing a spectacular stop in the 43rd minute to keep out Josue Kazema and ensure the two sides went into the break level.