Marumo Gallants moved to the top of Group A in CAF Confederation Cup with a 2-0 win over Algerian giants USM Alger on Wednesday afternoon.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Marumo Gallants 2-0 USM Alger
Date: 08 March 2023
Venue: Dobsonville Stadium
Gallants made only one change to the side that drew with TS Galaxy in the league, as they were boosted by the return of defender Olivier Toure, with Letsie Koapeng and Ranga Chivaviro leading the attack.
The hosts had a perfect start after Lesiba Nku gave them the lead within seven minutes with a strike in the box that found the bottom corner after he was set up by Lucky Mohomi from a quick transition.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa had to absorb the pressure after going ahead, as Alger got aggressive going forward and had a couple of successive shots that did not trouble goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
However, the visitors' tempo going forward slowed down towards the end of the first stanza but Gallants could not capitalize with a burst of pace and were happy to head to the interval with a narrow lead.
The Limpopo side were forceful coming from the break, however, as Chivaviro had a chance to double their lead with a strike from range that was kept out by goalkeeper Oussama Benbot.
Gallants looked to inject new energy going forward with a double change on 67 minutes, as Monde Mphabaniso replaced Katlego Otladisa and Sibusiso Sibeko came on for Nku in a tactical switch.
The South African outfit looked energized after that and Koapeng eventually doubled their lead in the last 15 minutes with a close-range shot from a rebound after Benbot denied Mphambaniso and Chivaviro in quick succession.
Gallants tried to manage the game in the closing stages but the Algerian side did not allow them, as they hurried them on the ball and Abdelkarim Zouari had a chance to reduce the deficit with space in the box but fired his shot wide.
Gallats sat deep in the dying minutes but they nearly conceded as Arubi made a crucial save to deny Abderraouf Othmani on a volley in the box, who had the first shot on target for Alger.
Gallants pulled two points clear of second-placed Alger at the top of Group A.
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