Zakri plays the most important cameo in his Sundowns career
JOHANNESBURG: The bold decision to book accommodation in Algeria, get visas to fly straight there from Casablanca and yesterday’s win could see the Brazilians continue their favourite past-time in the Caf Champions League ... namely tormenting North African teams.
Sundowns didn’t exactly wipe the floor with 19-time Moroccan champions yesterday but the win showed the Brazilians’ character to fight until the end, sending a strong message of intent in their bid to retain the Champions League. Without the injured Anthony Laffor who usually rises to the big occasion, Yannick Zakri played the most important cameo in his Sundowns career so far by giving the Tshwane team a lead going into the second leg on Saturday.
A drizzle just before kickoff, forced some fans on the far stand to scatter to the main stand. But an army of them stayed behind, singing their lungs out. Sundowns decided to open the gates for the fans to enter for free. The vuvuzelas didn’t take as the singing, the drums and the band overpowered it in a picturesque setting befitting of African champions.
It took some effort to make those fans leave happy. Wydad might not have parked the bus, but they strategically positioned it to frustrate Sundowns who struggled to penetrate them. Instead of the offensive 3-4-3 they played at home against FUS Rabat, Wydad played a 4-3-3, which turned to six at the back when they defended. The Brazilians tended to play with blinkers on, only seeing one side of their flanks – the one that was manned by Tebogo Langerman on the left while ignoring Thapelo Morena who had acres of space on the right flank.
The Moroccans had their eyes on Denis Onyango, ruffling his feathers and looking to get a response from the big man. Onyango has grown in stature since his heroics in last year’s Champions League along with helping Uganda qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Wydad saw his huge frame frustrate Egypt at Afcon and during their 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The Ethiopian referee, Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, was quick to stop Wydad in their tracks.
Sundowns had most of the ball, but Wydad’s defending managed to reduce that possession to nothing for the better part of yesterday’s match as the Brazilians hardly troubled goalkeeper Zouheir Laaroubi. Just like Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane said, Wydad soaked up the pressure at first to read their opponents before playing a more open game in the second half.
The Moroccans wanted a draw, banking on their impressive home record having won all their games at Stade Mohamed V in the Champions League and are yet to concede at home.
A draw would have made Sundowns’ trip to Casablanca more daunting without a goal, luckily for them Zakri stepped and threaded the ball past Laaroubi. Wydad’s defence isn’t as water-tight as it appears on paper and Sundowns exposed that, but struggled to punish the visitors. They will have to improve their finishing if they are to go to Algeria from Casablanca to potentially take on USM Alger in the semi-finals. The Algerians returned with a crucial away goal in the 1-1 draw with Ferroviario Beira in Mozambique on Saturday.