Marumo Gallants’ perfect start in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages came to an end on Sunday evening, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to USM Alger. The Algerian side took the lead in the first half through a strike from Abderrahmane Meziane, before Zinéddine Belaïd sealed the win in the last minute.
Gallants made only one change to the side that edged Saint Eloi Lupopo last weekend, as Edgar Manaka was recalled in place of Olivier Toure. Bahlabane Ba Ntwa created early chances as Koapeng and Chivaviro had golden opportunities in the box but both forwards were unable to find the target.
Alger looked to capitalize on set-plays, as they equally threatened going forward and Meziane eventually gave them the lead with a strike from outside the box.
As the encounter opened up coming from the break, Meziane almost doubled the lead for Alger with another strike from range that forced goalkeeper Washington Arubi into a fine save.
With the South African side looking for solutions from the bench with a quarter of an hour left, the likes of Monde Mphambaniso and Sibusiso Nkosi were introduced. Gallants launched a couple of attacks after that but they were vulnerable to counter-attacks, as Botswana striker Tumisang Orebonye came close to burying the game for Alger five minutes later with a close-range shot at the back post that was smothered by Arubi.
The Algerian side were not allowing Bahlabane Ba Ntwa time and space on the ball to launch attacks in the dying minutes as they looked to close in on maximum points. However, Belaïd settled the contest for Alger with the second goal in the last minute after he guided home a header from Saâdi Redouani’s cross. The win took the Algerian giants top of Group A, as the Limpopo outfit dropped to second spot after their first loss.
