Stellenbosch FC triumphed 2-0 over DR Congo’s AS Vita Club in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round tie at Cape Town Stadium on Friday. Two early goals within the opening 12 minutes set the tone for the South African side, but they were unable to extend their advantage, leaving the tie open ahead of the return leg.
The home team got off to a perfect start when defender Thabo Moloisane headed in from a corner kick just minutes into the match.
His goal gave Stellenbosch the momentum they needed as they looked to take control of the tie on home turf.
Just five minutes later, new signing Lehlogonolo Mojela doubled Stellenbosch’s lead.
Mojela found himself in the right place at the right time, finishing from close range to make it 2-0.
His quick contribution was pivotal to the early dominance Stellenbosch enjoyed in the first half.
Despite their fast start, Stellenbosch failed to add to their tally.
The match became a physical contest, and while Stellenbosch created several opportunities to widen the scoreline, their inability to capitalise may prove costly in the second leg.
Ibrahim Jaabar, in particular, was a creative force for the home side, setting up multiple chances that went unconverted.
Late in the game, substitute Ashley Cupido also squandered a golden opportunity, hesitating too long in front of goal, allowing his shot to be blocked.
In the second half, Stellenbosch’s claims for a penalty were controversially waved away by the Mozambican referee after Mojela was brought down in the box.
In a match marked by aggressive play, the referee did not issue a single card, raising questions over some of the officiating decisions.
On the other side, AS Vita Club struggled to break through Stellenbosch’s defence and were limited to speculative long-range shots.
Stellenbosch goalkeeper Sage Stephens had little to do, with Vita unable to register any significant attempts on target.
Despite the Congo side’s efforts to mount a comeback, they rarely troubled the South African defence.
While Stellenbosch’s victory extends their unbeaten run, which includes progression to the MTN8 final and six consecutive wins, they may regret not building a more commanding lead before the return fixture.
Heading to Kinshasa for the second leg, Stellenbosch will be wary of AS Vita’s home advantage, where a hostile atmosphere and tricky playing conditions could make for a challenging encounter.
Stellenbosch will need to maintain their focus and ensure that they do not let their first-leg advantage slip if they are to secure a spot in the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
