Stellies run Hotspurs ragged in CAF Confed Cup clash

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 on Saturday.

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.

A blow-by-blow account of yesterday's #TotalEnergiesCAFCC victory over Nsingizini Hotspurs ↓

— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) August 25, 2024

As expected, the game attracted a small crowd in Durban with the second leg a formality.

Phili was up for the occasion and made an early imprint on the match by influencing the opening goal.

The 19-year-old dropped two defenders on the halfway line before driving towards the box to set up Andre De Jong and the striker’s shot was parried twice by the goalkeeper before Lehlogonolo Mojela headed home.

The next 15 or so minutes Stellies went into cruise mode and allowed Hotspurs a chance in the 24th minute, but the visitors blasted it over the bar. Then Phili punished the Swazi side 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.

Back-to-back-to-back 🔥

Andre de Jong has scored in each of our opening three matches of the season 🎯 pic.twitter.com/fRPAFpd4Pz

— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) August 25, 2024

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 on the day was the loss of sought-after left back Fawaaz Basadien who had to be helped to the changeroom after an ankle injury.

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, and Mdaka a fourth on his club debut.

Stellies will now turn their attention to a difficult two-legged MTN8 semi-final with Mamelodi Sundowns, with the first leg on Wednesday in Pretoria.

Scorers:

Stellenbosch FC (2) 5

Mojela 9’ Phili 26’ De Jong 52’ Mdaka 86’ Boji 89’

Nsingizini Hotspurs (0) 0