Smiso Msomi
Stellenbosch FC (2) 5
Mojela 9’ Phili 26’ De Jong 52’ Mdaka 86’ Boji 89
Nsingizini Hotspurs (0) 0
Betway Premiership side Stellenbosch FC ran through Eswatini side Nsingizini Hotspurs 5-0 (8-0 on aggregate) in their preliminary first round match in the CAF Confederation Cup at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban yesterday.
Stellies will face Congolese side AS Vita Club in the next stage of the competition.
Despite going into this game with a comfortable three-goal buffer, Stellies coach Steve Barker resisted the urge to rest his core team with MTN8 duties on the horizon.
The hosts made just three changes from the team that turned up last time as youngsters Langelihle Phili and Liam De Kock joined Genino Palace in the places of Devin Titus, Athenkosi Mcaba and Jayden Adams respectively.
As many would’ve expected, the game attracted a small audience in Durban with the second leg seemingly a formality.
One of the finest gems in the Stellies DStv Diski Challenge side, Phili, was up for the occasion and made an early imprint on the match by influencing the opening goal.
The 19-year-old showed great skill to drop two defenders on the halfway line before driving towards the box to set up Andre De Jong and the New Zealand-born striker’s shot was parried twice by the goalkeeper before Lehlogonolo Mojela headed home the rebound in the ninth minute.
Major is up and running 🎯 pic.twitter.com/foA4xo0Y1W
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) August 24, 2024
The next 15 or so minutes would be one of balance as Stellies went on cruise mode and allowed a chance for Hotspurs in the 24th minute, but the visitors blasted the attempt over the bar.
They were made to rue that chance as Phili punished them by doubling Stellies’ lead in the 26th minute.
The AmaZulu Academy product jinked past two defenders inside the box before unleashing a ferocious strike to beat the goalkeeper at the near post, announcing his arrival to continental football.
The first stanza was one-way traffic for the home side and would’ve left Barker very pleased on the Stellies bench as they took an unassailable 5-0 aggregate lead into the half-time break.
The biggest blow Stellenbosch suffered on the day was the loss of sought-after left back Fawaaz Basadien who had to be helped back to the changeroom after suffering an ankle injury.
𝗛![CDATA[]]>𝗔![CDATA[]]>𝗟![CDATA[]]>𝗙-𝗧![CDATA[]]>𝗜![CDATA[]]>𝗠![CDATA[]]>𝗘 – Lehlogonolo Mojela and Langelihle Phili's first goals for the club have given us a two-goal lead at the break.
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) August 24, 2024
Stellenbosch 2️⃣–0️⃣ N. Hotspurs pic.twitter.com/HTdQPtdHbo
This incident prompted changes at half-time as Stellies sent on Unathi Mdaka, Titus and Adams for Basadien, Kyle Jurgens and Sihle Nduli.
It began to look ugly for the visiting side as De Jong added a third goal for Stellies just after half-time, placing further emphasis on what was a clear result on the day, while Mdaka added a fourth on his club debut.
Stellies will now turn their attention to a difficult two-legged MTN8 semi-final clash with Mamelodi Sundowns, with the first leg on Wednesday in Pretoria.