Stellenbosch FC secured a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage after a 4-1 win over 15 de Agosto in the second leg of the Second Preliminary Round at the Athlone Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Thato Khiba, Lehlohonolo Mojela, Andre de Jong, and Chumani Butsaka sealed the victory for the Winelands club.
The win was a confidence booster for Steve Barker’s men, who had recently recorded a 4-3 win over Golden Arrows in a midweek Betway Premiership fixture.
Coach Barker said: “It has to be a confidence booster. It’s no secret that we had been struggling in front of goal to score the goals we needed to win matches, so having scored four will hopefully give the individuals in the team, and the team as a whole, a boost.”
Stellenbosch FC had served up a goalless draw in the first leg against 15 de Agosto at Ebibeyin Stadium in Equatorial Guinea.
However, they turned up the heat in the second leg, starting the match in high spirits and banking on home advantage.
KHIBA, MOJELA, DE JONG AND BUTSAKA POWER STELLENBOSCH TO CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP GROUP STAGE
Their intense pressure paid dividends after 19 minutes when forward Lehlohonolo Mojela was fouled in the box. Thato Khiba made no mistake from the penalty spot, thrusting Steve Barker’s team ahead in the 21st minute. They went to the break with a 1-0 lead.
Stellies returned from the break with renewed impetus, and Mojela doubled their score after 56 minutes. Five minutes later, Andre de Jong made it 3-0 for Stellies.
The visitors, 15 de Agosto, pulled one back in the 80th minute, but it was not enough to keep their CAF Confederation Cup dream alive. In the 88th minute, Chumani Butsaka made it 4-1 for Stellies, securing the win and a spot in the group phase.
15 de Agosto had advanced to this stage with a 4-1 aggregate win over Foresters FC, but despite creating several chances against Stellies, they were unable to find the back of the net in the second leg.
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