RS Berkane  were unable to make a comeback in their 2018 CAF Confederation Cup tie as they were held 1-1 by AS Vita at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane on Sunday night, and succumbed 2-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinal tie.

The DRC side had to hang tough in the clash after going behind early on, but a late equaliser ensured they avoided any heartbreak in Morocco and set up a semifinal showdown with Egypt’s Al Masry next month.

Berkane drew first blood early on, with Burkina Faso forward Alain Traore capitalising on some slack defending from the visitors to put his side 1-0 up with just six minutes played and reduce the aggregate deficit to 3-2.

Vita threatened sporadically on the break, but they only once called RSB goalkeeper Abdelaali M’Hamdi into action through the first 45 minutes, leaving the game 1-0 in favour of the Moroccans at the interval.

The DR Congo side made a change at the start of the second, introducing Dharles Kalonji in place of Mukoko Tonombe, but the North African hosts remained the dominant force.

Yet Berkane were unable to fully capitalise on the possession and territory they enjoyed, with Kodjo Fo Doh Laba and Traore not given the service they needed to test Vita’s defence.

And the Black Dolphins took full advantage late in the game when they equalised through Fabrice Ngoma in the 85th minute, making it 1-1 on the night and restoring their two-goal advantage overall.

Vita will now face Al Masry in away and home ties on the 3rd and 24th of October respectively. The other semifinal sees Nigeria’s Enyimba tackle Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca.

RS Berkane (1) 1 (Traore 6’)
AS Vita (0) 1 (Ngoma 85’)

AS Vita won 4-2 on aggregate

Berkane: M’Hamdi, Namsaoui (Lhaj 77’), Mokadem, Dayo, Aziz, Naji, El Helali (Essaiydy 63’), El Mobaraky (Laachir 56’), Farehane, Kodjo, Traore

Vita: Lukong, Shabani, Makwekwe, Litombo, Sita, Tonombe (Kalonji 46’), Munganga, Ngoma, Batezadio (Emomo 79’), Makusu, Muloko (Lukombo 79’)