Royal AM went down 2-0 to TP Mazembe in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup group stage play-off tie on Wednesday afternoon.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: TP Mazembe 2-0 Royal AM
Date: 02 November 2022
Venue: Stade du TP Mazembe
The experienced figures from Royal AM in captain Ricardo Nascimento, Thabo Matlaba and Elias Pelembe started days after the 3-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership.
Expectantly, it was the host that presented the fast start when runs from Adam Bossu, Sozze Zemanga and Djos Issama penetrated the visitors defence.
Royal AM battled to cope and sustain the pressure and conceded another chance near the midway stage off a half-volley from Serge Mukoko, but the attempt evaded target.
Thwihli Thwahla started having a lot of the ball in promising areas thereafter and nearly went ahead from the pace of Shaune Mogaila on the counter-attack, but Mazembe fortunately enough parried.
Mazembe, though, continued to have the lion share of play towards halftime and threatened the lead through a low rasping drive on the edge of the area by Bossu.
Mazembe made their first half dominance count as AM lost concentration at the back 12 minutes into the resumption and granted Ernest Luzolo to bundle home and make it 1-0.
With Mazembe bombing forward, the visitors added fresh additions in Ruzaigh Gamildien and Mfundo Thikazi from the substitutes bench.
These additions energized the away outfit as the pair combined when Thikazi attacked Gamildien's layoff outside the area and worked a save out of the opposite number.
Mazembe regardless found a second midway in the second half after veteran Rainford Kalaba latched onto a looping ball through the centre of defence and coolly tucked past Xolani Ngcobo.
The host managed to shore up the remaining minutes of the match and walked away comfortable victors, with the second leg set to take place in seven days.
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