Tanzanian champions Young Africans were in dominant form as they defeated South African side Marumo Gallants 2-0 in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final encounter at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.
Second-half goals from Stephan Aziz Ki and substitute Bernard Morrison were enough for the hosts to take a deserved advantage heading to the second leg.
The match started in a frantic fashion with the Young Africans on the front foot, with star forward Fiston Kalala Mayele being a threat early on. However, the Congolese striker was unable to find the back of the net with a number of chances, including three of which were all saved by Gallants’ Zimbabwean goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Despite mounting pressure from the home team, tMarumo Gallants were the first to put the ball in the back of the net, but Randa Chivaviro’s effort in the 33rd minute was rightly ruled out for offside.
The second half began with Gallants letting a flurry of chances go by. After a loss of concentration in the Young Africans’ defence, Katlego Otladisa failed to break the deadlock with his effort.
Chivaviro had the chance to put Gallants in front, five minutes before the hour-mark but he failed to hit the target after he was sent through on goal by an exquisite backheel pass from Lucky Mohomi. Two minutes later, his strike from the right side was repelled by Yanga’s goalkeeper, Djigui Diarra.
Three minutes after the hour mark, Burkinabe midfielder Stephan Aziz Ki punished Gallants for their numerous missed chances.
The 27-year-old sent a terrific hit into the roof of the goalpost from the edge of the six-yard area off a sublime cutback from Tuisila Kisinda.
Mayele almost doubled the Tanzanians’ lead, but his lobbed effort was unlucky to hit the crossbar.
With the time dwindling and a goal separating both teams, Morrison stepped up to double the lead by making good use of a through pass from Mayele.
The Ghanaian’s initial effort was saved by Arubi, but he was alert to convert the rebound from an acute angle.
The goal puts the Young Africans comfortably in the driving seat of the two-legged fixture, with a two-goal advantage to the Dobsonville Stadium next week.
