CAF Champions League Report: Mamelodi Sundowns v Zamalek 27 July 2016

Mamelodi Sundowns
CAF Champions League Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Zamalek Date: 27 July 2016 Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium Mamelodi Sundowns progressed to the CAF Champions League semi-finals after securing a 1-0 win over Zamalek. The hosts should have gone ahead after seven minutes, as Leonardo Castro did well to create space for himself in the box but ended up blazing over the crossbar. Sundowns enjoyed most of the possession in the first half, with Teko Modise and Hlompho Kekana dictating play in the middle of the park. Ahmed El-Shenawy was called into action in the 33rd minute, as the Zamalek shot-stopper produced a good save to keep out Khama Billiat's cross-cum-shot from the left. Billiat carved out another chance five minutes later, as he weaved his way into the box, before forcing El-Shenawy into a good low save. The Egyptians were quite happy to sit back and soak up the pressure in the first half, although they struggled to catch Sundowns on the break, as they went into the halftime break goalless. After a cagey start to the second half, Sundowns went close in the 58th minute when Tebogo Langerman's strike from distance sailed inches wide of the upright. With Sundowns struggling to bypass the Zamalek defence, Pitso Mosimane introduced Percy Tau for Themba Zwane in the 66th minute. El-Shenawy then came to Zamalek's rescue once again in the 75th minute, as he produced a fine finger-tip save to keep out Kekana's thumping effort from distance. Sundowns eventually took the lead in the 79th minute when Zamalek's Ali Gabr deflected Tau's cross into his own net, 1-0. Mosimane's charges managed to see out the final stages of the second half to claim the three points, which sees them cement top spot in the group. Here's how lined up: Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, S. Zwane, Nthethe, Bangaly, Langerman, Modise. Kekana, Zwane, Dolly, Biliat, Castro Zamalek: El-Shenawy, Tolba, Gabr, Dowidar, Alifathy, Tawfik, Youssef, Abdelkhalik, Khaled, Shikabala, Morsy