Champions League blow for Sundowns

Pitso Mosimane did not get his wish yesterday when AS Togo-Port failed to do his Mamelodi Sundowns a favour in the Caf Champions League as the Togolese side lost 2-1 to Guinea outfit Horoya AC in their earlier Group C match in the continent’s premium club competition.

The Brazilians’ day went from bad to worse as Mosimane’s side failed to take matters into their own hands when they succumbed to a 1-0 loss last night at the hands of defending champions Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco.

It was right-back Anas Al Asbahi who stunned goalkeeper Denis Onyango with a bolting strike in the 56th minute. Mosimane responded with a wholesale of substitutions. The first came four minutes after Al Asbahi’s goal when Venezuelan striker Ali Meza was sent on in the place of Gaston Sirino. Tiyani Mabunda was brought on shortly after and Laffor made way, while Lebohang Maboe made his Champions League debut when Mosimane withdrew his captain Hlompho Kekana.

The first half did not produce much goalmouth action from either side as most of the action took place in the middle of the park where the trio of Motjeka Madisha, Anele Ngcongca and Anthony Laffor landed in Algerian referee Abid Charef’s book.

Mosimane’s side did, to a certain extent, look a side that threatened to draw level in their bid to rescue a point as the likes of Themba Zwane, Meza and Sibusiso Vilakazi pulled gallant efforts to create chances for the 2016 champions. It was not to be because the backline of Salaheddine Saidi, Mohammed Ounnajem, Badr Gaddarine and Asbahi remained a resolute defensive wall in front of shot-stopper Yassine El Kharroubi.

Sundowns now trail the Moroccans by six points and are three points behind second-placed Horoya.