Downs take advantage to Morocco
Stubborn Wydad give little away
Ivorian Yannick Zakri scored the only goal against Wydad Casablanca in a second half cameo that put Mamelodi Sundowns a step closer to the semifinal of the CAF Champions League yesterday.
Zakri grabbed the only goal of the encounter in the 71st minute as the defending champions edged the Moroccans 1-0 in a hard-fought battle. He had come on as a replacement for Sibusiso Vilakazi at half time.
Sundowns will fly out to Morocco today to spend a good number of days acclimatising to the conditions ahead of the second leg at the Stade Mohammad V on Saturday.
Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana reminded the Moroccans why he was nominated for the Fifa Puskas Goal of the Year last year with a thunderbolt in the eighth minute from outside the box that found the back of the net but was disallowed due to a teammate being in an offside position.
In typical north African style, the Moroccans sat back in their own half and were waiting to pounce on the counter attack.
A dangerous cross from the left flank from Wydad winger Salaheddine Saidi forced Denis Onyango to flick the ball over the bar for a corner in the 13th minute.
Communication between Wayne Arendse and Motjeka Madisha appeared disjointed with the opposition at times able to find spaces to penetrate between both defenders.
Sensational winger Percy Tau was a livewire for the Brazilians with his mazy runs and crosses into the box.
Wydad continued to absorb the pressure with Sundowns launching an avalanche of attacks at the visitors.
The home side identified the right flank, manned by defender Badr Gaddarine, as a weakness in the opposition that could be explored and taken advantage of.
Sundowns’ ploy worked as the only goal came through a corner kick, which was won through an attack down that side of the pitch.
Also yesterday, Golden Arrows hammered AmaZulu 4-1 in the KwaZulu-Natal derby to move top of the Absa Premiership.