Sundowns on course to defend Caf Champions League trophy
JOBURG - Sundowns are course to defend their Caf Champions League trophy following their one-foot step into the semis of the competition.
Mamelodi Sundowns could be on their way to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League semi-finals as they endeavour to defend their trophy.
This is all dependent on what happens in Morocco in the second leg of the quarterfinals after they beat Wydad Athletic Club 1–0 at home at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium.
It was the sheer brilliance of Percy Tau’s corner kick to find Themba Zwane who, with his stylish backheel pass, found an enterprising super sub in Algerian international Yannick Zakri, who made no mistake to put the Brazilians ahead in the 70th minute.
Both teams started the game cautiously, with Wydad parking the bus and hoping to catch Sundowns on the break. The visitors did win five corner kicks in the process but both teams settled for a goalless first half.
Whatever Downs coach Pitso Mosimane said to his boys during the break, they came back into the second stanza livened up.
Mosimane immediately introduced Zakri for Sibusiso Vilakazi and this worked wonders for him as the nifty Algerian showed his class in both pace and ability to find the cracks in the watertight defence of the Moroccans.
He could have easily banged in a brace had his second attempt at goal not been blocked by one of the more than seven players of Wydad who were defending in the box.
Mosimane bemoaned the injuries to his key players, Khama Billiat, Anthony Laffor and new arrival from Kaizer Chiefs, George Lebese. “We were so thin upfront and this was all the result of injuries we have but we’ll have to make do with the players available.
“We already have one foot into the semis and we need to ensure we manage the situation very well in Casablanca.”
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