St. George edged AS Vita Club 1-0 in the African Champions League group C match at the Addis Stadium Sunday to compound their woes.
Vita are winless in three outings and are rock bottom in the group. The Horsemen, who are yet to concede in seven matches, move joint second in the standings on five points same as the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The match was cagey in the first half with the hosts resorting to long balls, which were aimed at their talisman Salhadin Said.
A tactical change by stand-in coach Zerhium Shengeta – bringing on Mintesnote Adane for Minyahel Assefa in the 51st minute proved apt, as they took charge of the midfield.
And after a neat interchange of passes, Abdulkarim Nekeima picked Salhadin with a superb pass, which he fired home for the lone goal in the 59th minute.
Vita had their moments to restore parity with Rwandan forward Ernest Sugira coming close a couple of times, but the meanest defense in the tournament remained steady.
St. George will travel to Kinshasa for the second leg in two weeks’ time.
