Marumo Gallants’ cinderella run in the CAF Confederation Cup continued after they edged ten-man AS Vita Club 2-1 in the first-leg of their second preliminary round clash on Friday evening.
Gallants brought Celimpilo Ngema and Matome Kgoetyane back into the starting XI while Lebogang Mabotsa and Maboke Matlakala were handed rare starts.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, who got to this stage after beating Futoro Kings 4-2 on aggregate in the first preliminary round while Vita had a bye, shot into an early lead in the 19th minute as Ngema powdered home a low finish inside the area.
The South Africans were in control of the contest, as Vita were not threatening their defence in the final third as the first stanza was nearing its end.
Meanwhile, all changed in the second half, as Thabo Mnyamane nearly doubled the home side’s lead in the early stages of the second stanza but his effort was tipped over the bar by the Vita goalkeeper.
Ngema soon made it 2-0 for Bahlabane Ba Ntwa just before the hour-mark with a close-range finish to complete his brace.
Gallants decided to make some changes when Thembisani Nevhulamba replaced Matlakala and in the final quarter Edgar Manaka replaced Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.
The DR Congo side were reduced to ten men late in the game for poor conduct towards the referee, but despite the numerical disadvantage, Vita pulled one back four minutes before time to earn a vital away goal ahead of the return leg coming up in two weeks’ time.