Stellenbosch hit the woodwork three times, before finally grabbing a last minute winner in a 1-0 win over Desportivo Lundo Sul in their CAF Confederation Cup group game at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda on Sunday afternoon.
Steve Barker’s team were facing a tough challenge after losing their first two group games, and remain in contention in Group B after picking up their first-ever CAFCC group match win.
They started positively with Thabo Moloisane going wide with a header in the opening two minutes, while Cupido’s effort in the fifth minute lacked power and was saved easily by Nayan.
Sage Stephens made a good save in the eighth minute, before Devin Titus went close to opening the scoring at the other end, but his attempted chip at goal, with Nayan stranded, lacked power and was cleared off the line.
Andre De Jong went close in the 18th minute but his shot was just a few centimetres wide and it struck the post and went behind, while Cupido went wide five minutes later. In the 34th minute Cuca went close for Lundo Sul, but his long-range attempt, was wide of Stephens’ goal.
Just before the break, Zenilson had two headed attempts but neither troubled Stephens, and it remained goalless at half-time.
Cupido started the second half with an early attempt, but his first-time shot curled just wide of goal. Jayden Adams’ audacious overhead kick attempt in the 51st minute was unlucky to not go in as it thundered into the frame of the goal. Five minutes later Fawaaz Basadien was off target with a powerful shot.
Nayan made a good one-on-one save to deny Sanele Barns in the 61st minute, and again a minute later at close range to deny Cupido. The Brazilian goalkeeper was keeping Lundo Sul in the game and he did brilliantly to stop De Jong’s attempt in the 71st minute from close range, and again three minutes later to deny Adams in a one-on-one situation.
For the third time, the woodwork denied Stellies the lead when Titus rattled the crossbar in the 79th minute, with Nayan beaten, though three minutes later it was him who would deny the same Titus with another good save.
Barker’s boys continued to throw it all at their opponents in the final minutes, and finally, in the 89th minute, and after over 20 shots at goal, they went ahead when Titus beat the off-side trap to head in Basadien’s cross.
The two teams will meet again on the 12th of January, with Stellies set to host the Angolans at Loftus Stadium, due to the unavailability of the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
