In a phenomenal game at the Cairo International Stadium will live long Masandawana’s historical winning in the Champions League after The Brazilians five successive defeats in Egypt. A great amount of enthusiasm was shown from each side right from the beginning, with both sides getting a feel for the tempo and looking to create goal scoring chances as early as possible.
The first real opportunity of this eagerly anticipated encounter came the way of Downs, with Themba Zwane, Peter Shalulile and Teboho Mokoena charging forward in attack. Shalulile’s cut back to Mokoena found the midfielder but not in the perfect positioning to connect well with the ball. Moments later, Khuliso Mudau tried to link up with Mokoena but this time the pass overpowered the midfielder.
Bafana Ba Style’s goalie Kennedy Mweene was forced into his first save of the match as he kept out Hamdi Fathi’s header which also took a deflection from Brian Onyango. The Egyptian Red Devils were looking confident with each passing minute trying to unlock Masandawana’s defense and just over thirty minutes had been played with the scores still deadlocked.
Aliou Dieng took a chance outside the box for the Egyptians and it looked like a goalscoring opportunity for the home team, but his efforts went over the goalposts. Ali Maaloul pressured the defense just outside Downs’ box and the Tunisian’s cross in the box was met by Mweene with a punch to clear the ball out of danger. Just before the interval the hostd again went close, with an effort from Maaloul that would have been a goal but it was well saved again by the Zambian international who stood his ground.
Both teams came out fighting in the second half and Mweene was forced to make an early save in the half, Maaloul charged a dangerous run down the wing, putting a ball into the box but again the Zambian made no mistake in clearing the danger.
Sundowns were soon provided with a break to test Mohamed El Shenawy with a set piece a little outside the 18 area box, freekick specialist Lyle Lakay and Mokoena stepped up to take the responsibility, ultimately Mokoena’s shot was on target but cleared by the experienced goalkeeper. Masandawana’s forward players were a constant danger looking to open the scoring, this time it was Shalulile who combined well with Mokoena and Haashim Domingo who had just been subed on for Andile Jali. At the other end of the field, the Red Devils were finally finding spaces as Downs started to defend deep in their own half forcing Mweene to make some good saves.
The Brazilians we’re just as eager to find the back of the net with their high pressing attacks which eventually paid off, Thapelo Morena fired one home for Masandawana after Ahly’s mix up in defense. The Egyptians tried to find the equaliser right away but were denied by Mweene who pushed it out wide and kept the home team to chase the game until the final whistle. A big save in the final moment of the second half secured victory for the South African League Champions.
This is how we lined up:
K. Mweene , B. Ralani (66′ Modiba), L. Lakay, B. Onyango, R. De Reuck, A. Jali © (54′ Domingo), T. Mokoena (66′ Mvala), R. Coetzee, K. Mudau, T. Zwane (80′ Morena), P. Shalulile
Subs:
R. Pieterse, A. Modiba, T. Morena, M. Mvala, N. Maema, G. Kekana, L. Kapinga, H. Domingo, K. Erasmus.
Well done boyz. We played well in patches. We’ve got a very good player in Domingo, he just need to improve certain aspects of his game. The same goes for Mudau and Brian Onyango, unfortunately the least favoured players by most of our supporters. What a performance by our back four and Riva, only after we’ve scored, we started defending like amateurs.
A well deserved victory over our nemesis, especially beating them in their background. I want to reiterate the constant exclusion of Neo Maema whereas Shalulile is experiencing a dry spell, I mean the boy knows the direction of the goals & can supply or create them for Shalulile but alas our coaches deliberately ignore his contribution.But on a higher note Sundowns technical team was not boasting about ball possession like they did against Al Ahly last year.Yesterday there was a game plan & not to compete with Al Ahly pound for pound but to capitalise on our strength.Thumbs up to Mngqithi,Thulani&Kompela,3 points away from home will go a long way.Mudau is starting to mature like an old 🍷,Yes they put us on the backdoor on the dying moments of the game.Mweene had to bring his A Game on the field of play.We humbled Pitso for saying those words that he has been winning trophies for Sundowns alone.Undermining Mngqithi &Rhulani on that process.But let us also mention injuries that are a constant cause for concern.I mean Safranko,Sirino, Saavedra &Jali are the backbone of the team.Now let’s hope that we break this jinx of not getting past the quarter finals of this competition &go all the way to the finals, but believe you me these Arab countries r a tough nut to crack it won’t be easy at all but by the grace of God all things are possible.Kaboyelo everywhere we go.
Thank you for a well deserved victory away from home, you have our support all the way. Thank you once to the Yellow nation👆👆🎂🎂
What a game.. I enjoyed the game. What a game by Mudau, de Reuk and Mweene… De Reuk wanted to die on the field. Mudau very consistent player. Mweene was a class act on the day. The whole played well yesterday. Let’s beat them home and away.
Thank you guys for the job well done,hope Pitso will not underestimate us in future.
My wish is for All Ahly to be eliminated so that Pitso can be fired kuphele ukuphapha why I’m saying that he always speak badly about Downs forgetting we made him what he is today after Bafana discarded him and nobody wanted to give him a second chance.
The only problem I have with our first eleven will always be Zwane,every time when he have the ball he wants to dribble even its unnecessary and our Wisemen turns a blind eye on him and I don’t know why,hope to see Maema and Kapinga introduced early not on dying minutes, once again thanks for the three points yesterday, Kby forever
Thanks for the win yellow Nation!! I suggest when we host Al Ahly in the return match Maema should start ahead of Ralani! Thus the player that can make Shalulile score! He understands Peter’s movements! Even my self I’m gatvol with Zwane! Why does he have to dribble every time when he gets the ball! He does the same thing over and over again even in the middle of cluster of opposition players! I don’t know probably thus how the coaching staff whats him to play???