A ten-man Stellenbosch showed grit and resilience to draw 1-1 with AS Vita, as the South African club booked their place in the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, with an aggregate score of 3-1.
It proved to be a baptism of fire for the continental debutants, who had played all their three previous CAFCC games in South Africa.
Thabo Moloisane and Bradley Mojela had scored in the first leg to give Steve Barker’s team the advantage going into the decider in Kinshasa.
Mojela thought he’d scored again early in the searing heat of Congo, but his goal in the 13th minute was ruled out for off-side.
But it was the home side, without coach Abdeslam Ouaddou who resigned after the first leg, who were applying the pressure, and Sage Stephens needed to make a big save in the 23rd minute.
Stephens was needed several times in the first half to keep AS Vita out, while Jayden Adams and Ismael Toure both had opportunities in the first half, but were unable to convert.
Stellies were dealt a major blow just before the half-time whistle, when Toure was shown a second yellow card, and was sent off.
A man down, it set up an intriguing challenge for Barker and his boys, playing their first-ever match outside the borders of South Africa, in front of a partisan DRC support.
The coach sacrificed Andre De Jong at the break and brought on Kyle Jurgens to cover the right-back position, with Moloisane combining with Athenkosi Mcaba centrally.
With thirty minutes to go, Ibraheem Jabaar tried to catch the Vita keeper out, but his chipped effort went over the bar.
At the other end, Stephens continued to stand strong, and the in-form goalkeeper denied Vita again in the 63rd minute.
Mojela would get his goal in the 71st minute, as the former Shumba Development graduate silenced the Stade de Martyrs and fired in, to almost certainly secure the tie for Barker’s side.
That away goal meant the Congolese would need to score four late goals to overturn the deficit.
Vita were awarded a penalty in the first minute of stoppage time, which they converted to make 1-1, but time was not on their side.
It ended 1-1 to Stellenbosch, and a historic result for the Cape Winelands team.
