Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Sundowns take charge in Group A
mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Zwane 8’ AL HILAL (1)(0) (0)(0)
A goal from Themba Zwane ensured that Mamelodi Sundowns began their CAF Champions League group stage campaign on a high note as they beat Al Hilal at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg last night.
After an impressive outing in the first half of the season, where they won the MTN8 and finished at the top of the Premiership standings, Sundowns picked up where they left off in the restart, winning the first two matches in domestic football.
The Brazilians had to move their match to Rustenburg after their stadiums, Loftus Versfeld, Lucas Masterpieces Moripe and Tuks, failed the evaluation process from CAF, while Al Hilal had been camping in Cape Town for a few weeks.
Moreover, Al Hilal boasted the likes of Gerard Phiri jnr and Abdul Ajugun who were playing in the local top flight early this season at Baroka and Cape Town City, and were therefore familiar with Sundowns and local conditions.
Building on those back-to-back wins in domestic football, Sundowns paired Peter Shalulile with Pavol Safranko up front.
There was, moreover, a place for wantaway attacker Gaston Sirino in the starting line-up as he replaced Surprise Ralani, the new signing from Cape Town City.
Without breaking much of a sweat, the Brazilians led from as early as the eighth minute. A back pass from Walieldin Khedr found an unmarked Themba Zwane who slotted past Ali Eshrein.
The Sudanese outfit had a couple of decent chances but they were stopped by a resilient defence from the hosts, who had centre-backs Brian Onyango and Rushine De Reuck in form.
The Brazilians suffered a massive blow in the 25th minute after Sirino had to be taken off because of a nose injury, following a collision with his marker. His replacement Thapelo Morena, though, should have grabbed the double for the home team.
But a tackle from Mohamed Ering ensured that Morena failed to knock in from close range. From thereon, Mohamed Abdelrahaman continued to pile the pressure on Sundowns.
Al Hilal continued with where they left off in the second stanza, but the Sundowns defence protected goalie Denis Onyango who was hardly tested.
Despite being on the back foot, Lyle Lakay nearly doubled his team’s tally with his trademark set piece execution but Eshrein tipped the goal-bound shot over the crossbar as Sundowns went top of Group A.