The second leg of the CAF Champions League Preliminary Round took place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium between Mamelodi Sundowns and Jwaneng Galaxy. The Brazilians went to this game with a two-goal cushion and were looking to get their ticket to the Group stages for the sixth time in a row. In the first leg in Botswana, a goal by Mothobi Mvala and Peter Shalulile was enough.
Kennedy Mweene, Aubrey Modiba, and Kermit Erasmus made their way into the starting eleven from the one that did duty in Lebatse Stadium.
The game started with the visitors showing intention that they are in Mzansi to fight and are not going to be laying down, Ricardo Lourenco was the first was to take the first blow but his shot was deflected by Brian Onyango in the second minute. It took the Brazilians a few minutes to get into gear and Modiba saw his attempt deflected too and the ball fell onto Romeo’s feet and his shot sailed slightly away from the goalposts.
Lourenco was on again to test Mweene as he turned outside the box and unleashed a shot but the Zambian was alert to carry the ball out for a corner. Andile Jali and Lebo Maboe showed some neat inter-passing and laid the ball for Modiba but his shot sailed over the bar. Brian Onyango who scored over the weekend in the domestic league saw his header sailing over the bar.
Mamelodi Sundowns were now in control of the game and needed that elusive goal to take the lead and in the 39th minute a good run made by Shalulile on the left found Erasmus inside the box and he easily tapped it in for the opener.
Erasmus had another opportunity at the death of the first half to score his second for the night but his shot could only hit the crossbar after a well-placed cross by Lyle Lakay.
Four minutes into the second stanza Shalulile was brought down in the box and up stepped Ricardo Nascimento to take the spot-kick, his effort was saved by the Galaxy keeper and the score remained 1-0. Lakay tested Mbise and the keeper was alert to punch the ball away to safety. In the 60th minute, Mothobi Mvala headed home the second goal of the game, his second in back to back matches.
With the game done and dusted a moment of brilliance that showcased the typical Masandawana football resulted in a goal as Thapelo Morena finished off the great move to open his account for the season and the third goal for the day.
In the last minute of the game, the visitors got a consolation goal through Sembowa. The game ended 3-1 and 5-1 on aggregate and propelled Masandawana to the Groups Stages.
How we lined up: Mweene, Morena, Nascimento (Soumahoro 90′), Onyango, Lakay (Langerman 64′), Mvala, Jali (Mkhulise 74′), Maboe, Modiba, Shalulile (Kekana 74′), Erasmus ( Makgalwa 64′)
Subs: Pieterse, Langerman, Makgalwa, Kekana, Mkhulise, Sirino, Soumahoro
Good game and our young players changed the game when they came in you can see good passes