Marumo Gallants secured top spot in Group A of the CAF Confederation Cup with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Saint Eloi Lupopo on Sunday night.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Marumo Gallants 3-2 Saint Eloi Lupopo
Date: 02 April 2023
Venue: Dobsonville Stadium
The Limpopo side rang the changes for their final group game, as goalkeeper Abram Ngcobo, Boitumelo Pheko, Sizwe Mdlinzo, Pule Maraisane, Sibusiso Nkosi and Judas Moseamedi were all handed starts.
Gallants had already qualified for the next round, but they knew a win would seal top spot in the group ahead of USM Alger while Lupopo were playing for nothing but pride.
The away side found the opening goal in the 23rd minute, as former Cape Town City midfielder Allan Kateregga sent a tidy finish past Ngcobo for his first goal in the competition.
Nkosi went close to pulling the home side level soon after, but his effort from a tight angle struck the frame of the goal with goalkeeper Yves Kisanga well beaten.
With the half drawing to a close, Lupopo managed to double their lead on the stroke of halftime courtesy of a close-range finish from Malanga Mwaku.
Gallants came out for the second half with a more attacking approach, while they also threw on Joseph Molangoane, Katlego Otladisa, Ranga Chivaviro and Sibusiso Sibeko after the hour mark.
The flurry of substitutions sparked the comeback, as Sibeko pulled one back for the Limpopo side in the 70th minute after some good work by Moseamedi.
Three minutes later, fellow substitute Chivaviro restored parity in the game with his sixth goal of the competition.
The turnaround was completed on 75 minutes when Moseamedi bagged Gallants' third goal in five minutes to cap off a memorable comeback at Dobsonville Stadium.
Here's how they lined up:
Marumo Gallants: Ngcobo, Nkili, Kgoetyane, Kumalo, Makudubela, Mdlinzo, Pheko, Nkosi, Manaka, Maraisane, Moaseamedi
Subs: Watenga, Gumede, Malongoane, Otladisa, Yidah, Chivaviro, Ramphela, Sibeko
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