Marumo Gallants sink in Dar es Salaam to Young Africans in Confed ...

Marumo Gallants put in a spirited performance in Dar es Salaam,  but ultimately went down 2-0 against Young Africans in their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first-leg clash on Wednesday at the Tanzania National Main Stadium.

The Limpopo-based Gallants, who are struggling to hold onto the DStv Premiership status, have been a revelation in Africa's second-tier inter-club competition.

Gallants are currently 14th in the domestic league, on 29 points, with one game remaining as they look to avoid relegation to the national first division.

But contrary to their underwhelming league form, Gallants have soared in Africa, dating back second preliminary round in October 2022.

They've gone on to beat the playoff round and finish top of their Group to set up a quarter-final clash against Egyptian giants Pyramids, a fixture which ended in Gallants' favour.

However, Young Africans put the South African outfit to the test in front of their hostile home crowd.

Marumo's Ranga Chivaviro, who is the joint-leading scorer in the Confederation Cup with six goals, was kept relatively quiet in Dar es Salaam as the away side defended the majority of the game.

The home side took the lead midway through the second half via Stephane Aziz Ki before Gallants' defensive lapses showed again in stoppage time, which substitute Bernard Morrison took complete advantage of.

The second leg will take place next week Wednesday at 18:00 (SA time) at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Young Africans get an all-important second goal at the game's death via Morrison.

A well-worked goal by Young Africans as they take the lead. Kisinda neatly receives the ball deep from midfield on the right flank and leaves his marker behind before timely placing a through ball for Aziz, who slotted the ball beyond Arubi's reach.

40' Gallants will certainly be the happier of the two sides as they kept an attack-minded Young Africans relatively quiet, with Arubi making no less than three crucial saves to keep the scores goalless.

35' CHANCE! Almost immediately, Young Africans respond with an effort of their own as Mayele sees his effort go directly into the path of Arubi, who gloves the strike to safety. 

33' GOAL! GOAL! ....

No offside! Koapeng nets with a clinical finish, but the delayed flag raise was the right call after replays showed the striker was indeed offside. 

Gallants are giving Mayele too much room and he could hurt them. He has been shooting straight at Arubi for now

Young Africans forward Fiston Mayele has scored 12 goals this season in both of the CAF club competitions, the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

A 28-year-old from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he bagged seven goals in the Champions League, including two hat-tricks. 

When the Dar es Salaam outfit were demoted to the Confederation Cup, he continued to torment rivals, scoring the two goals that eliminated Rivers United of Nigeria in the last round.

- via AFP

Chivaviro of Marumo is the joint leading scorer in the Confederation Cup with six goals and he will appreciate the hot weather forecast for the first leg against Young Africans. 

"I spent six months playing for a club in Kosovo two years ago and could not get used to the cold conditions," said the 30-year-old.

His quarter-final first-leg header against Pyramids in Egypt earned Gallants an unexpected draw, and a solitary goal gave the South Africans victory in the return match. 

- Via AFP

These are how the teams are lined up:

Young Africans XI: Diarra (GK); Job, Nondo, Hamad, Shomari; Moloko, Bangala, Aucho, Kisinda; Mayele, Ki.

Marumo Gallants XI: Arubi (GK); Mvelase, Gumede, Toure, Sibeko; Mphambaniso, Manaka, Mohomi, Otladisa; Koapeng, Chivaviro.

WELCOME!

LIVE scoring and commentary of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first leg between Young Africans and Marumo Gallants.