CAF Champions League Report: Saint George v Mamelodi Sundowns 01 July 2017

CAF Champions League    Result: Saint George 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns   Date: 01 July 2017   Venue: Addis Ababa Stadium   CAF Champions League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns kept their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive after snatching a 1-0 win over Saint George.    The home side dominated in the opening exchanges, and nearly went ahead when Motjeka Madisha's attempted clearance crashed against the upright in the fifth minute.   Saint George continued to threaten in the first 20 minutes, while Sundowns were finding it tough to cope with the bumpy pitch.   Sundowns eventually started seeing a bit more of the ball after 30 minutes and looked to Percy Tau and Sibusiso Vilakaiz to create openings, although the hosts were well drilled at the back.   However, the home side were awarded a penalty on the stroke of halftime. However, Denis Onyango showed his class by keeping out the spot-kick.   The second half started in the same fashion as the first, with the home side seeing a lot of possession without really threatening the Sundowns goal.   Sundowns carved out the first chance of the half just after the hour-mark as Tau played Tebogo Langerman, who forced Robert Odongkara.   Odongkara was called upon again five minutes later, as he produced a superb save to keep out Hlompho Kekana's effort from 20-yards out.   With time running out, Pitso Mosimane introduced Thapelo Morena for Yannick Zakri as they pushed for a winning goal.   Sundowns eventually broke the deadlock in the 84th minute when Morena raced to the byline before firing the ball into the box, where Anthony Laffor was on hand to rifle home, 0-1.   Mosimane's charges managed to see out the closing stages of the second half to claim the win and move up to second in the group.   Here's how they lined up:   Sundowns: Onyango, Ngcongca, Madisha, Soumahoro, Langerman, Kekana, Vilakazi, Zwane, Laffor, Tau, Zakri.