Mamelodi Sundowns will return home with a two-goal deficit after succumbing to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final on Saturday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.
The hosts got off to a better start and enjoyed the better share of possession in the opening quarter of an hour with The Brazilians displaying their defensive discipline as the kept their shape and limited chances created against them.
Denis Onyango justified his reputation as one of Africa’s finest as he took command of his penalty area on numerous occasions, claiming multiple aerial balls and calmly saving an attempt from range.
Gaston Sirino saw his powerful effort from range go wide of goals as the two sides went into the break goalless.
The hosts took the lead ten minutes into the second half when defender Ali Maâloul got past his man after playing a one-two with Junior Ajayi to enter the box before he slotted past Onyango.
Al Ahly were awarded a penalty ten minutes later when Captain Hlompho Kekana was adjudged to have fouled Aliou Badji in the penalty area. Maâloul stepped up to the spot and beat Onyango to grab his second of the game and give the hosts a two-goal advantage.
The game opened up in the final stages as Downs continued to look for a way back into the tie. Coach Pitso Mosimane brought on Tiyani Mabunda and Phakamani Mahlambi to try and secure the all-important away goal.
The result meant The Brazilians’ suffered only their second defeat in 2020. Despite being down Pitso Mosimane’s side will be looking for a repeat of their previous home fixture against Al Ahly in April 2019 which saw them emerge as 5-0 winners, as they look to turn the tie around in the second leg.
Al Ahly SC (55’, 68’ Maâloul) 2-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
2-0 is a bit too much against a team of Al Ahly calibre. It’s so discouraging that we lost through costly mistakes by the most senior players of the team when Nicholas Lukhubeni was seemingly sidelined because of inexperience in CAF and the penalty he conceded against VUT. I was so disappointed with Themba Zwane, he’s always no where to be found when we need him most all the time. It looks like all the teams that finished 2nd on their respective groups will be going through. The only teams that I expect to fight hard in the return legs are TP Mazembe and Esperance.
Playing in Africa is not easy as it looks on TV it involves lot of things mentally ,physical n strategic
Was the game televised, it was a hard day at work for me izolo but like Pitso said it’s not easy to walk away with a win in PTA so it’s not over masandawana amahle
Don’t worry ma Brazilians
We will go through to the next round come Saturday
But expecting if fielding out form such as Maboe this play been given enough time fall get form special tough game no need of gamble anywhere hard lucky
We have to play during the day in the afternoon not at night if we want to manage the egyptians
I believe we can make it, only if our coach doesn’t plan to play Maboe this coming Saturday. If he plays Affonso and Laffor, and Themba Zwane ups his game, then I honestly don’t see Ahly stopping us
What happened to Laffor? Like honestly as fans we are part and parcel of the club and we should be heard. If the club can not hear our cries what’s the point of supporting them. Its clear that some players need to be rested as they have lost their form; platforms like CAF are not places for players to seek their form thats serious business there. I just hope on return leg the coach can do the right accurate changes that will suite us all best and help us proceed.
I don’t think that Maboe is bad it’s just that is not lucky to score i like him because he always truck back and help us defending unlike other players.i don’t think Laffor is match fit to start a game in CCL. Let us start him when we play in the PSL. we will bounce back we are able to score 11 goals in 1 game so 2 goals is not much the Red devils are not the same like before they struggle when playing away nowadays
Lets hope for best for the second leg. Wishing team all the best of luck.
When its cm to the biggest games lyk ally ahly is where u can see how Antony laffor ‘s perfomance, when its cm to attacking laffor is good not to say I’m comparing to somebody else,remember when we got an away goal against Zesco,when we betting Zamalek bt 3:0,laffor is good.wishing team all the best if luck
The boys will score 4 goals without conceding next Sat. I’m pretty much chuffed that the game will be played @ 15h00. Arabs can’t play under such conditions. That should work in Sundowns’ favour.
Am wishing for best guys to reach to final took trophy **
Things did not turn the way the Downs family have expected. Truly speaking this is a big score for Al Ahly. I do not see us turning the tables in the coming encounter. Sometimes this could be used (by Pitso) as a blessing in disguise to focus on Nedbank. Also the PSL League title seems unreachable this time around. The gap keeps widening, which ultimately puts pressure on us than Chiefs themselves.
I think we need to support the team unconditionally, leave the technical issues to the technical team, coaches must select the team according to their awareness at the end of the day is their careers on the line…..
I’ve watched the game, honestly this AL Ahly team is there for the taking, they were showing some nervousness when we attacking them,
Let’s pray to the football Gods to give us a hot afternoon day
I was a little disappointed to watch our team being beaten 2 – 0 by the Egyptians! Laffor usually comes in hand in such big games but the truth has to be told, he has not played this season at all and throwing him into the dip end it was not going to work. The coach, if he wanted to use him, could have given him few games to play before that match. Coming to the second leg i think the guys will fight to win but to be honest i do not see them getting a 3-0 scoreline over the Egyptians. Our defence is not as strong as we wanted to be, they can easily be caught on a counter attack. Aly Ahly has not lost a game in the Egyptian league. They are the form team. Themba Zwane struggles in big matches, he was nowhere to be seen in that match. We simply do not have a centre forward that is on form. The coach has not given strikers chances to play! I think he prefers the false 9 formation which normally does not suffice in such big games! We have got nowhere to hide!
We remain focused, we have the hope that things will turn around, it was a very tough encounter, it is not easy to win away especially after group stages, and it is very difficult to lose at home at that stage,the only question is how many goals do you score at home ? Now that Sundowns have got no choice and have a target where they must start and achieve, the home work to do first is to cancel the two goals first, having done so they must put one foot front ahead to make it three goals, its not easy but its doable and will have to be done if we still have the hope. One thing l know , on this one in particular, Sundowns will give a good fight, they will have to do it and we must give the support they need to do it. And most likely all those goals will come in the first half.
The boys needs our support. I firmly believe that if we can score a goal in the first ten minutes, then we will be in a better position to win. We should , however, beware of counter attacks from the Egyptians. Let’s go to the stadium Masandawana and sing our lungs out.
It is going to be a difficult game for Masandawa as we will looking to change the score line. I am happy that Langerman and Ngconca will be back. Al Ahly can be beaten on Sat, we nèed precision passing of the ball and quick movement after our centre half towards finishing, also individual brilliance will be critical. I think Mahlambi should start the game instead of Maboe amongst other changes. Themba Zwane needs 5o come to the party and he knows it I trust him he will. Wandile Jali should go forward more with his quick and fast moving passes towards the D line. Hlompho magic is needed big time what a good passer of long balls and his shots. Ka Boyello we will come back.
All is not lost but I believe in this team come Saturday we wii be victorious. KBY I remain
Masandawana amahle do u not remember that last year Al Ahly should have gotten more than 5 goals ePitoli, yes they a different team now but 3 goals and s nothing, we have a week off, wat u think Pitso is telling the boys now, that’s it’s over. No that man loves winning just as much as we do, we just need to play our best 11, get that goal in the first 20 min and try control the game, goal 2 3 and 4 will come soon after that, players must just know it’s not over, we are Masandawana amahle
Is it coincidence that all the away teams were beaten by a 2 nil margin? For my penny’s worth i think all the home teams this coming weekend will easily go through by overturning the 2 nil lead. I remember the 3 nil lead being overturned by Esperence in the final a few year ago.
If we all wear yellow and gain free entry and be early maybe throw in some music nyana before the game.that has been helping us don’t under estimate the power of supporters.and I am sure Motsepe don’t have a problem with that…but PPL next to him.get high school pupils get PPL to rally sundowns.supporters coordination ya Sundowns it’s so weak.viva free entry viva
As sundowns fans we should never lose hope I believe my team will come back in second leg, we gonna beat red devils…. #Re masandawana we know what we’re capable of