Marumo Gallants are through to the next round after drawing 1-1 with AS Vita in the second leg of their second preliminary round CAF Confederation Cup tie at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte in Kinshasa. The tie ended 3-2 to Gallants.
It was a dramatic finish to the tie after Vita had taken an early lead, only for the South African club to score an equaliser with almost the last move of the game.
Gallants had won the first leg 2-1 in South Africa last week against the 2018 CAFCC finalists.
The early pressure was from the home team, as Washington Arubi found his goal under siege.
And Vita took the lead in the 19th minute as Amede Masasi blasted in from range leaving Arubi with no chance.
With Vita now in command of the tie, thanks to their away goal in South Africa, Gallants did start to look for solutions to get back in the game, and Thabo Mnyamane went close in the 33rd minute.
At the break Vita held onto their 1-0 lead, and the South African club came back out after halftime pushing hard to find a goal.
And while Gallants were dominating possession, they weren’t creating chances, as they struggled to make in roads in the final third, with their final deliveries in letting them down.
And it was Vita who would go close to scoring again as Obed Mukokiani’s shot from close range drew a good save out of Arubi in the 65th minute.
The DRC team were struggling to deal with the speed and quick-passing of some of Gallants’ players, and resorted to committing a few fouls that frustrated the visitors.
Celimpilo Ngema tried from range in the 72nd minute, but his low effort was always off target, but Arubi had to be at his best again two minutes later as he saved from a goal bound free kick.
Katlego Otladisa was off target with an ambitious effort in the 78th minute, and time was running out for Gallants.
Sibusiso Nkosi had a half chance in the 86th minute, but his volley went over the goal, and just when it looked over, Gallants scored late in stoppage time to sneak through the tie, with their first shot on target, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo grabbing the equalising goal and tie winner.
