Pitso set for charge of White Knights

MAMELODI Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane expects a completely different game from Zamalek in Alexandria in Sunday’s Caf Champions League second leg after the Brazilians swept the White Knights off the field at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Sundowns take a healthy 3-0 lead to the second leg and stand on the verge of history and becoming only the second South African club after Orlando Pirates‚ who won the competition in 1995‚ to be crowned African champions.

With Downs’ excellent away record in this year’s Champions League‚ their quality of player‚ and the dominance they displayed in the first leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday‚ they will be confident of lifting the trophy.

A lot could depend on whether the Egyptian authorities keep to a limitation of 20 000 spectators at Borg El Arab Stadium on Sunday‚ or‚ given Zamalek’s desperate situation‚ relent and allow in a bigger crowd at the 86 000-seater venue.

“I think it’s going to be a different game in Alexandria. We’re going to have a lot of stress and pressure from the supporters‚” Mosimane said‚ almost in anticipation of the 20 000 limit not being adhered to.

“And obviously Zamalek come from a good reference where they’ve experienced winning 4-0 at home‚ and it became a 5-2 [away]. So that gives them a little bit of an advantage‚” the coach said‚ in reference to the White Knight’s scoreline in the semifinals against Wydad Casablanca.

Mosimane‚ though‚ pointed out that – big crowd in Egypt or not – the advantage is now firmly in the hands of Downs in the final‚ especially having not conceded a goal at home‚ which count double in the event of the aggregate scores being level.

“You never know what’s going to happen there. We will play our normal game. And if they have to push everybody forward we have speed at the front – we can go out‚” said Mosimane.

“So the monkey is on their back. It’s not on our back now.”

Sundowns have already beaten Zamalek 2-1 in Cairo (the Brazilians also won 1-0 at home) in the group stages.

Sunday’s second leg has been moved to Alexandria‚ and the crowd limit imposed‚ as a security precaution because of the tense political situation in Egypt.

● Mosimane’s overriding aim in the three substitutions he made in Saturd win against Zamalek was to get players who could potentially be suspended off the field.

Mosimane said once Downs had secured the three-goal advantage with Eslam Hamed’s 46th-minute own goal‚ his priority became to preserve players on yellow cards who would have been suspended for the second leg had they picked up a further booking‚ including star striker Khama Billiat.

Billiat was the first to go‚ replaced by Teko Modise in the 65th minute.

Centre-back Wayne Arendse – whose booking on Saturday means he will miss the second leg – was substituted by Soumahoro Bangaly‚ the man who will also replace him in Alexandria‚ in the 70th minute.

Themba Zwane replaced Kekana in the 86th minute.

“I didn’t only bring in Bangaly because I’m preparing him [for the second leg]. I also brought him in because I didn’t want to play with 10 men‚” said Mosimane.

“Wayne had a yellow card‚ and I don’t have him for the next match. So I sacrificed.

“My substitutes were not tactical. My substitutes were to take Wayne out‚ because he can get a second yellow card.” — TMG Digital Hlompo