TP Mazembe sealed a convincing 2-0 victory over Royal AM in their first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup play-off played in Lubumbashi on Wednesday.
The first half saw Mazembe in firm control of the match, but for all their pressing, a stubborn Royal AM defense managed to keep them at bay, but only barely.
Mazembe set out their stall from the first whistle, but some misplaced passing in the final third saw them unable to create any clear-cut chances.
They had their first shot on goal in the ninth minute –Adam Bossu letting rip with a 25-yard free-kick, but he saw his thunderbolt skim to the wrong side of the post.
Seven minutes later and they were threatening again, this time from a corner kick that resulted in Glody Likonza letting fly from just outside the box, but his effort sailed inches wide of the right-hand post.
The second half saw Royal AM seeing a bit more of the ball and they had a couple of long-range shots early in the half, but the momentum of the game soon took the same pattern of the first as the Ravens began to control matters and confirmed their dominance with the opening goal in the 50th minute.
Some swift passing in and around the area resulted in Pelembe finding space inside the 18-yard box but his shot went over the bar with Baggio Saidi to beat.
Mazembe went ahead courtesy of Luzolo strike shortly before the hour mark with a header from a rebound after Xolani Ngcobo failed to hold onto a cross.
Royal AM came to life again shortly thereafter and threatened an equalizer from a delivery across the face of goal after a nice passing move, but Mogaila missed target.
The result was then put beyond doubt 18 minutes from time when Rainford Kalaba latched onto the ball from Adam Bossu and scored from close range.
The return leg will be played at the Moses Madhiba Stadium in South Africa on the 9th of November.
