Stellenbosch will be aiming to continue their good form in the CAF Confederation Cup when they host AS Vita Club in the second preliminary round, first-leg clash at DHL Cape Town Stadium.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Stellenbosch 2-0 AS Vita
Date: 13 September 2024
Venue: DHL Stadium
Stellies kept the same line-up that edged Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in the MTN8 semi-final second-leg, as Lehlohonolo Mojela, Devin Titus, Ibraheem Jabaar and Andre De Jong were in attack.
The hosts had a bright start as within the first four minutes Titus almost opened the scoring but he was denied by the Vita goalkeeper.
Three minutes later Thabo Moloisane eventually gave Steve Barker's charges the lead with a header in the box from a set-piece.
The Cape Winelands outfit remained on the front foot as just after 12 minutes Mojela doubled their lead after a wave of attack.
Stellies were dominant even towards the half-hour mark and nearly got the third goal after a shot across the face of goal by Mojela was seconds too quick for Titus at the back post.
Barker's men hardly faced any trouble from the Congolese outfit towards the end of the first stanza and went to the interval with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
The early stages of the second stanza did not produce a lot of goal-mouth action but the home side nearly got the third goal on 65 minutes after Jabaar had a shot cleared off the line.
Stellies did not rest on their laurels with 12 minutes to go, as they made a double attacking change, that saw Ashley Cupido and Genino Palace replace Jayden Adams and De Jong.
Barker's men controlled the game in the closing stages and secured a 2-0 win.
The Western Cape side will open their Betway Premiership season at home against Golden Arrows on Wednesday and will refocus to the return leg set for next week Sunday in Kinshasa.
Here's how they lined up:
Stellenbosch: Stephens, Moloisane, Toure, Mcaba, Basadien, Nduli, Adams, Jabaar, Mojela, de Jong, Titus.
Subs: Masuluke, Onyango, Mdaka, Jurgens, Phili, Smith, Palace, Cupido
