Staff Reporter.
Marumo Gallants advanced to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup with a 3-2 aggregate win over AS Vita.
Gallants went into the return leg with a 2-1 lead from the first leg, and they needed to avoid defeat to secure their place in the final round.
Vita needed to beat Gallants at least by a single goal to advance, and they gave the South African side a scare as they took the lead inside the opening 20 minutes to level the tie 2-2 on aggregate.
However,Thabo Mnyamane had a big chance to level matters in the 32nd minute with a free header at the back post that sailed just wide of the upright.
Vita were playing on counter-attacks in the closing phase of the first stanza and they had a chance eight minutes before the half-time break with a free-kick on the edge of the box that was saved by goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
The Black Dolphins continued to absorb the pressure in the closing stages, denying Gallants space behind their defence by pressing them as soon as they entered the dangerous areas.
With Mpho Maleka’s charges causing problems with crosses and long balls into their box, Gallants snatched the equaliser in second-half stoppage time to progress to the play-off round with a 3-2 aggregate win.