CAF Confederation Cup: DC Virunga suffer major mome setback against Primeiro de Agosto

DC Virunga suffered a damaging 2-1 home defeat against Angola’s CD Primeiro de Agosto in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup, leaving the Congolese side facing a difficult challenge in the return fixture.

Playing at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, the Green and Whites were unable to take advantage of home support as Primeiro de Agosto scored twice shortly after half-time.

A late goal from Junior gave the hosts hope of salvaging a draw, but the Angolan visitors held on to secure a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg in Luanda.

The match had been evenly contested during the opening 45 minutes, with neither side finding a breakthrough.

However, the balance shifted after the interval as Primeiro de Agosto made their opportunities count and put DC Virunga under immediate pressure.

Primeiro de Agosto Strike Twice After Half-Time

The visitors took the lead four minutes into the second half when Obed scored in the 49th minute, breaking the deadlock and putting DC Virunga on the back foot.

The goal changed the momentum of the contest, with the Angolan side gaining confidence as the hosts attempted to respond.

Primeiro de Agosto then increased their advantage in the 59th minute, when Tombe found the net to make it 2-0.

The quick succession of goals left DC Virunga with a difficult task.

Having kept their opponents at bay throughout the first half, the Congolese team suddenly found themselves trailing by two goals on home territory.

Primeiro de Agosto’s clinical finishing proved decisive during that period, allowing the visitors to establish a commanding position in the tie before the hosts could recover.

For DC Virunga, the challenge became one of finding a way back into the match while preventing their opponents from extending their lead further.

Junior Gives DC Virunga Hope

Despite falling two goals behind, DC Virunga refused to give up and increased their attacking efforts as the match entered its closing stages.

Their persistence eventually paid off when Junior scored to reduce the deficit to 2-1, giving the home side a lifeline ahead of the return fixture.

The goal offered some encouragement to the Green and Whites, who continued to search for an equaliser after pulling one back.

However, their late push did not produce another goal, and Primeiro de Agosto managed to preserve their lead until the final whistle.

Although DC Virunga avoided a two-goal defeat, the result represented a missed opportunity to establish an advantage before travelling to Angola.

The hosts will now have to address the defensive problems that allowed Primeiro de Agosto to score twice in the space of 10 minutes after half-time, while also finding ways to make their attacking pressure more effective.

Difficult return leg awaits in Luanda

The 2-1 defeat leaves DC Virunga needing a strong performance in the second leg if they are to keep their CAF Confederation Cup campaign alive.

With the return match scheduled to take place in Luanda, Primeiro de Agosto will carry their narrow advantage into the next encounter, while the Congolese side must attempt to overturn the deficit away from home.

Junior’s late goal could prove important by keeping the tie within reach, but DC Virunga will need to produce a more complete performance to progress to the next stage.

The Green and Whites will have to combine greater defensive concentration with improved attacking efficiency as they seek to overcome their Angolan opponents.

For Primeiro de Agosto, the victory provides a valuable advantage after a difficult opening half in Kinshasa.

The visitors will now aim to complete the job in the return leg, while DC Virunga face the task of producing a comeback to avoid elimination from the competition.