Stellenbosch through to CAF Confederation Cup group stages

The Betway Premiership club were 2-0 winners a week ago at the Danie Craven Stadium and played to a 1-1 draw at Stade des Martyrs on Sunday to progress to the next round, all while playing the entire second half with a man down.

Lehogonolo Mojela broke the deadlock after 71 minutes with a lethal half-volley that left the As Vita keeper with no chance. Ismael Toure had picked up a second yellow card in first-half injury time to earn his dismissal.

Full of confidence from their first leg, Stellies started this tie on the front foot and had the ball in the back of the net after just 13 minutes, but Mojela was adjudged to have been offside.

The Congolese side had a good chance of their own on 21 minutes, with an effort deflected just wide of the target, while Sage Stephens was called into action again just minutes later to pull off a smart double save.

Jayden Adams thought he was in on goal with a neat one-two on the half-hour mark but his shot was too tame to beat the advancing AS Vita keeper.

Toure had a chance to open the scoring for his side with 39 minutes on the clock but he overcooked his drive that flew over the crossbar.

It was end-to-end as the half wore down, with Stephens again called into action with a strong one-handed save to claw a well-hit shot around a post, while the first period ended with Toure seeing red.

Stellies head coach brought on Kyle Jurgens for Andre de Jong as he adjusted his side to better cope with having a player less, and they were holding firm with 10 second-half minutes played.

And with their composure still very much intact, the away side pressed their attacking intent and came close to a goal on the hour mark as Ibraheem Jabaar saw his long-range effort drop just behind the goal.

AS Vita were not without their opportunities though and put Stephens to the test again following a well-struck corner, before Thabo Moloisane blocked a shot on target from the hosts that had the Stellies keeper beaten.

It was almost against the run of play at that stage that Stellies went up the other end to score, with Mojela making no mistake from the edge of the area after a poor clearance by Vita defence.

The home side responded well to going a goal down, with their sustained pressure ultimately paying dividends with a penalty won and expertly dispatched on 91 minutes.

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