Sundowns edge AS FAR to reach Champions League final

A second continental trophy is on the horizon for Mamelodi Sundowns.

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This is after the women’s team booked their spot in the final of the Caf Women’s Champions League with a 1-0 win over AS FAR in the semi-final match played at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on Wednesday.

Sundowns Ladies must have got motivation from the male team to do well in the continental tournament after Rulani Mokwena’s charges were crowned the winners of the inaugural African Football League this past weekend.

The victory was a sweet revenge for Banyana Ba Style, having lost to the Moroccan outfit in the final of the same competition last year.

The win didn’t come easy for Sundowns Ladies as the game was closely contested with limited goal-scoring chances created especially in the first half.

The South Africans were presented with a good opportunity to break the deadlock in as early as the fifth minute, but Chuene Morifi’s shot went over the bar.

The match was well balanced, as both clubs managed to see much of the ball, but their efforts in the final third were fruitless.

In the 35th minute, AS FAR were awarded a free-kick in a promising area, but Banyana Ba Style goalkeeper Andile Andile managed to make a good save to keep her team in the match.

The Pretoria-outfit could have gone into the break with the lead after a beautiful play by Lebogang Ramalepe saw her set-up Boitumelo Rabale inside the Moroccans’ box, but the midfielder’s shot went just inches wide.

Sundowns began the second period with more determination and they almost scored in the 51st minute, but Refilwe Tholakele’s shot went just wide.

Banyana Ba Style kept on searching for a goal, but the North African side was solid at the back.

As time went by, AS Far also managed to create some attempts to score, but, the Sundowns players were having none of it as they defended with their lives to make sure they don’t concede.

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After numerous attempts, Downs finally got the winning goal thanks to Rabale’s finish in the 72nd minute to knock the holders out of the competition and book their place in the final, which will be played on Sunday against the winner between Ampem Darkoa and Sporting Casablanca.