Marumo Gallants' fairytale start in the CAF Confederation Cup continued after defeating ten-man AS Vita Club 2-1 in the first-leg of the second preliminary round on Friday evening.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Marumo Gallants 2-1 AS Vita
Date: 15 October 2021
Venue: New Peter Mokaba Stadium
Gallants made four changes from their heavy defeat to Golden Arrows before the FIFA break, as Celimpilo Ngema and Matome Kgoetyane were both recalled while Lebogang Mabotsa and Maboke Matlakala got rare starts.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa got to this stage after thrashing Equatoguinean side Futoro Kings 4-2 on aggregate in the first preliminary round while Vita had a bye.
The South African outfit were on the front foot in the opening exchanges and Ngema opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a low sweeping finish inside the box.
Gallants were in control of the contest, as Vita were not threatening their defence deep in the first stanza but they were unable to add to the advantage before the break.
That all changed in the second half, as Thabo Mnyamane nearly doubled their lead in the early stages of the second stanza but his effort was tipped over the bar by the Vita goalkeeper.
Ngema eventually doubled Bahlabane Ba Ntwa's lead just before the hour-mark with a close-range finish to complete his brace.
Gallants opted to re-shuffle the pack, as Thembisani Nevhulamba came on for Matlakala and in the last 14 minutes, before Edgar Manaka replaced Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.
The DR Congo side were reduced to ten men just after that after one of their players remonstrated with the referee after the hosts were given a free-kick just outside the box for a foul on Katlego Otladisa.
Despite the numerical disadvantage , Vita pulled a one back four minutes before time with a vital away goal ahead of the return leg coming up in two weeks' time away.
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