By SABC Sport
13th September 2024
In what is the Cape Winelands club's first sojourn in the continental tournament, Stellies made a fast start to dispatch the disjointed Congolese outfit.
The two goals, and the fact they did not concede, sets Stellenbosch up nicely for the second leg in what is sure to be a hostile atmosphere when they travel to Democratic Republic of Congo next week Sunday.
The home side took the lead as early as the seventh minute when defender Thabo Moloisane rose highest from a Fawaaz Basardien corner to find the back of the net.
It turned into a fantastic start for Stellies when, just five minutes later, Lehlohonolo Mojela took advantage of a defensive lapse and finished to make it 2-0.
It was a terrible start for the visitors who were maybe feeling the effects of not yet starting their league campaign and are still in pre-season.
Stellies were not made to sweat in the first half and took their two goals into the halftime break and the sizable Congolese contingent made their feelings known, reacting angrily to the head coach and team as they headed to the dressing rooms.
Vita were better after the interval but the hosts had a huge penalty shout turned down on the hour mark when Mojela was clean through on goal and taken down by the defender.
Stellies had more opportunities to extend their lead but fluffed their lines and will hope it does not come back to bite them in the second leg in Kinshasa on 22 September.
Before then, Stellenbosch will open their league campaign against Golden Arrows at Athlone Stadium on Wednesdaybefore jetting off to continue their African safari.
READ MORE: TS Galaxy and Samir Nurkovic part ways