Blom makes bow in Concacaf Champions League

South African international Njabulo Blom came on as a second half substitute as his American club St Louis City began their Concacaf Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo in the home leg of their first-round tie.

Blom can now boast of having played in both the African Champions League, featuring for Kaizer Chiefs as they reached the final in 2021, and in the top club competition in the Central, North American and Caribbean confederation.

St. Louis' Tim Parker scored the opening goal, two minutes before Blom came on, before Houston's Sebastian Kowalczyk equalised.

St Louis’ new Japanese signing Hosei Kijima then netted the match-winning goal in the 90th minute to give them a slight advantage for the second leg on February 27 in Houston. The victor will advance to meet the reigning MLS champions Columbus Crew in the round of 16.

Former Stellenbosch defender Olwethu Makhanya was on the bench on Tuesday for Philadelphia Union as they came from two down to win 3-2 over Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica, in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup first round tie.

Julian Carranza's second-half hat-trick carried Union to an away lead and a major advantage for the return leg next week.

The 19-year-old Makhanya is still to make his debut for Union, having singed last year.