Mamelodi Sundowns have taken control of the CAF Champions League semifinal with a first leg win following a 1-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis on Sunday night at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi. It is Brayan Leon’s only goal of the match that saw coach Miguel Cardoso’s charges leaving Tunisia with an away goal.
The intentions were very clear from both sides from the time the kick-off whistle was blown. End-to-end football was witnessed very early into the opening half, with Masandawana dominant on the ball.
The first big scoring opportunity, however, came from the hosts just before the ten-minute mark. The ball came from a tight angle on the left flank but the Downs shotstopper, Ronwen Williams made a catch. Williams was tested again a few minutes later inside the area when the ball went past a body of blue jerseys but his anticipation was amazing as he made another catch of the ball.
Esperance were creating plenty of chances in front of goal, threatening the Downs rearguard. Another opportunity came for them through a cross which connected to a header inside the box. While the hosts tried to redirect the ball towards goal, Khuliso Mudau trapped the ball with his legs to deny the hosts.
The first big chance for the visitors came on the 28th minute from Arthur Sales. Having been met by the ball on the edge of the box, he fired it towards goal but it deflected, denying coach Miguel’s men an opener.
Just after the hour mark, Esperance came close to breaking the deadlock with a thunderous strike but were denied by the woodwork.
The hosts had another opportunity inside the box but before even firing the shot towards goal, Mudau slid to punch the ball away, earning a corner. They came close again from the setpiece but Williams’ reflexes helped as he smacked the ball away to keep the score at 0-0 at the break.
Bafana Ba Style made an early signal through Brayan Leon just a minute into the second half. Leon dived to head the ball towards the target but the keeper tipped it away.
It only took six minutes into the second stanza for the visitors to find the back of the net. Thapelo Morena set it up for Leon who was squeezed in by two defenders but that didn’t stop the forward from beating the defence to break the deadlock through a header.
On the 65th minute, the hosts almost drew level. Williams went off his mark to catch the ball but a collision with an Esperance defender led to him losing it. The hosts had managed to score but the VAR check disallowed the goal to keep Downs ahead.
On the 85th minute, Masandawana went down to ten men after Grant Kekana was sent out by the referee after a dangerous foul on the opponent as he tried to make a clearance.
Ten minutes were added into play and Esperance dug deep to find a goal to level matters but the Downs defence kept it tight at the back. In the end, Masandawana emerged victorious with the one-goal advantage.
Line up:Williams ©, Mudau, Cupido, Kekana, Lunga, Morena, Mokoena, Adams, Sales, Allende, Leon.
Subs: Onyango, Ndamane, Ntsabeleng, Aubaas, Mdunyelwa, Matthews, Zwane, Basadien, Rayners.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.
