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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns looked set to emerge from the Stade Tata Raphael with a draw on Sunday, only to concede a late goal and lose 1-0 to AS Vita in the CAF Champions League.
Early play was tentative from both teams, with little to get the 50 000 strong crowd on their feet.
The first chance of the game saw Keagan Dolly speeding down the flank before pulling back a cross for Leonardo Castro, but his goal-bound shot was blocked and went out for a corner.
Castro was again close to getting on the scoresheet after a storming run by Mzikayise Mashaba in the 16th minute, but again the home defence came up trumps.
'Downs were also having some defending to do, Onyango as well as defenders Thabo Nthethe and Ramahlwe Mphahlele doing some sturdy work at the back for the visitors.
There were also first-half chances for Hlompho Kekana and Mphahlele, but the former shot wide while the latter had his effort blocked.
Bernard Morrison came very close to putting the hosts ahead seconds before half-time after breaking clear on goal, but he watched as his effort miss by inches.
The Premiership leaders were to have the first chances of the second half, but Tebogo Langerman and then Themba Zwane were wayward with their efforts.
When the hosts did manage to carve out a chance, they found Dennis Onyango impassable between the sticks, the Ugandan keeper doing superbly to deny the dangerous Morrison on 54 minutes.
Dolly should really have put Masandawana ahead on 66 minutes, but having done the hard work, he fluffed his parting shot.
But the Kinshasa club continued to ask questions of the Brazilians defence, with Morrison flashing an 85th-minute shot wide to illustrate that point.
Vitas continued to push forward and were rewarded for their efforts in stoppage time when Kule Mbombo scored on the rebound after Onyango had done brilliantly to deny Morrison.
