Marumo Gallants qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history despite losing 4-1 to Al Akhdar on Sunday night.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Al Akhdar SC 4-1 Marumo Gallants
Date: 19 March 2023
Venue: Martyrs of February Stadium
Gallants made five changes to the side that drew with Cape Town City the last time out, as Monde Mphabaniso, Sibusiso Sibeko, Thato Khiba, Edgar Manaka and Katego Otladisa were brought back in the line-up.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, who had a game delayed by four hours, got the game off already guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals after a draw between Saint Eloi Lupopo and USM Alger in a game that was supposed to play simultaneously.
Gallants absorbed the pressure in the early stages, as they sat deep in their own half and looked to go forward only on counter-attacks and did well to restrict Al-Akhdar for the first half-an-hour.
The Libyan side, however, found their way through a deep block courtesy of a low shot by Anas Abd Alraheem after he was located through on goal by Mohammed Alzabbad.
Gallants could not get their flow going in the latter phase of the first stanza and went to the half-time break without testing goalkeeper Miftah Al Taeb.
Al-Akhdar were more forceful coming from the break, as Ary Papel doubled their lead just four minutes in with a close-range finish after a headed pass from a corner situation.
Gallants, however, showed the fighting spirit and Mpho Mvelase eventually pulled a goal back on the hour-mark with a header in the box after a headed pass by Tshepo Guemede from a corner.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa threatened to get the equaliser as the game opened up but they were caught unaware by a quick free-kick from Al-Akhdar six minutes later, as Papel went clear on goal, restored the home side's two-goal cushion and got his brace, with a low shot one-on-one with shot-stopper Washington Arubi.
The visitors opened themselves up at the back as they were desperate to reduce the deficit and on 73 minutes Mohamed Makari put the result beyond doubt for the Libyan side with a first-time finish in the box after a diagonal through ball.
Gallants had a shot cleared off the line just after that and they continued to commit numbers going forward but the Libyan side had a better resistance and kept their hopes of qualifying alive with their first win in the group.
The South African side remained top of the section by one point.
Here's how they started:
Marumo Gallants: Arubi, Gumede, Mvelase, Nku, Mohomi, Sibeko, Mphambaniso, Otladisa, Ngema, Khiba, Manaka.
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