Malawi league champions Nyasa Big Bullets survived numerical disadvantage and mounting pressure to stun Benni McCarthy and his AmaZulu at home on Friday evening.
Bullets beat AmaZulu 1-0 in the CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg match played at Moses Mabidha Stadium in Durban to carry a slender advantage into the second eg.
Former Orlando Pirates striker Chiukepo Msowoya scored for Bulletsin the 26th minute.
Msowoya eventually left the pitch after getting injured.
Thing got bad for Bullets when they were reduced to 10 men after left-back Yamikani Fodya received a straight red card for a foul with two minutes to half-time.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Bullets held on resolutely keeping the McCarthy men at bay much to the frustration of the former Bafana Bafana star.
Not that AmaZulu did not have scoring chances but they lacked urgency in attack as they switched play from left to right thereby allowing Bullets to maintain their shape and repel all attacks.
The closest chance AmaZulu had was through Philani Zulu but he blasted over the bar with the goal-mouth at his mercy minutes after AmaZulu had hit the post.
Bullets will host AmaZulu at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on September 18 2021 in the second leg.
Bullets are the unprecedented 14-time league champions in Malawi and are three points ahead this season over second-placed Silver Strikers.
Bullets have been in the competition for some years and achieved their best performance in 2004 when they reached the group stages after sailing past Orlando Pirates (South Africa), SC Villa (Uganda) and Zanaco (Zambia).
In their last participation in the Champions League in 2019, Bullets lost 3-2 in Zimbabwe to FC Platinum after a goalless draw in Blantyre in the first round, first leg match.
AmaZulu: Veli Mothwa,Philani Zulu, Tarcious Malepo, Luvuyo Memela, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Moleko, Xoki, Makhaula, Mlambo, Qalinge, Maduna.
Bullets: Richard Chimbamba, Sankhani Mkandawire, Gomezgani Chirwa, Miracle Gabeya, Yamikani Fodya, Chimango Kaira, Chimwemwe Idana, McFarlen Mgwira, Henry Kabichi, Chiukepo Msowoya, Babatunde Adepoju