Result: Al Ahly 2-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 29 February 2020
Venue: Al Salaam Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns' hopes of reaching the CAF Champions League semi-finals suffered a blow after suffering a 2-0 loss to Al Ahly in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
The South African champions were once again without a recognised striker as Lebohang Maboe, Gaston Sirino and Sibusiso Vilakazi led the attack in Cairo.
It was an evenly contested affair early as Denis Onyango was forced into a save after five minutes while Al Ahly's Mohamed El-Shenawy was called up to deny Wayne Arendse a few minutes later.
Sirino was proving a difficult customer for the Egyptians as the Uruguayan midfielder went agonisingly close with an effort from distance that sailed just wide of El-Shenawy's goal.
The eight-time African champions did take control in the latter stages of the half, but the Sundowns defence did well to deny the hosts an opening in the final third., most notably Hlompho Kekana who popped up with a last-ditch tackle before the break.
The hosts eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half as Ali Maaloul managed to break down the left side of the box to slot a low effort past Onyango from close range after persistent pressure.
It got worse for Sundowns 10 minutes later when the hosts were awarded a penalty after Aliou Badji was brought down in the 18-yard area. Maalou stepped up and slotted home to get his and Al Ahly's second of the night.
Prior to the spot-kick, Pitso Mosimane had withdrawn Sirino and introduced a more defensive player in Tiyani Mabunda to help defend the onslaught from the hosts.
Themba Zwane was eventually brought on with five minutes left in the contest in place of Tebogo Langerman, but the damage had already been done as the Egyptian giants will now take a two-goal lead to South Africa next week.
Sundowns: Onyango, Madisha, Arendse, Nascimento, Lebusa, Maboe, Kekana, Jali, Zwane, Vilakazi, Sirino.
Al Ahly: El-Shenawy, Fathy, Ibrahim, Metwaly, Maaloul, Afsha, El Soleya, Dieng, El Shahat, Mohsen, Ajayi.
