DR Congo’s AS Vita went down 1-0 at home to Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in their second Group D African Champions League clash played on Friday evening at Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa.
Soufiane Rahimi scored the only goal of the game four minutes into the second half to lead the Green Eagles to victory and up the second spot on the table with three points from two matches. The defeat leaves Vita at the bottom of the four-team log with zero points having played the same number of matches.
The earlier attacking dominance came from Vita when Amed Toure and Mumbere Mbusa combined to setup Sezo Zemanaga, who pulled narrowly wide of the mark in the eighth minute.
Yannick Bangala looked to open the scoring in the 17th minute when he got on the end of a cut-back from the left to open up a shot which flew way off the intended target.
The Black Dolphins were denied by the crossbar this time after Luete Dongo evaded Zakaria Wardito fire in a shot which cracked the frame of the goal after 24 minutes played.
Fabrice Ngah went close to continuing his fine form for the visitors as he headed on target from a corner five minutes from the break, but Vita shot-stopper Nelson Lukong smothered his countryman with a great save.
Vita were made to pay for those missed chances after Rahim closed in on the opener 48 minutes after eliminating space from the right after Lukong failed to hold to powerful shot.
Ousmane Quattara aimed to level three minutes later after lining up for a free-kick, but the Ivorian failed to trouble Zniti as the attempt flew over the top.
A balancing contest ensued towards the hour mark, as strong challenges, particularly across the middle of the park, reigned forth on either end of the scale.
The first substitution of the evening came from the visitors inside the 61st minute as Wamba made way for Fiston Mayele.
Raja looked for a strong finish towards the final minutes, but Ayaoub Nana and Hamid Ahadddad, in particular, fired blanks from clear-cut openings.
The Green Eagles almost surrendered their lead at the death, but Luete and Tonombe saw their efforts off target as Jamal Sselami’s charges held on for the victory.
Image: File picture
