CAF Champions League
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Al Ahly (1-3 agg.)
Date: 22 May 2021
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns' CAF Champions League came to an end at the hands of Pitso Mosimane, whose Al Ahly side claimed a 3-1 aggregate win to advance to the semi-finals.
Themba Zwane and Andile Jali came into the Sundowns starting line-up, while the Red Devils brought Hussein El Shahat and Mohsen into their side.
With 11 minutes played, Mosa Lebusa conceded the corner. The set-piece was swung to the back post and Amr El Soleya headed the ball across for Yasser Ibrahim to nod home from close range to deliver an early hammer blow to the Brazilians.
Ten minutes later, Sphelele Mkhulise did well to make space for himself at the edge of the box and aimed an effort at goal which narrowly missed the woodwork.
The hosts equalised on the half-hour mark. Aubrey Modiba received the short corner and whipped in a pinpoint delivery for Lebusa to rise highest and head expertly into the top right hand corner.
There were a couple more openings later on, as slick passing around the box led to Themba Zwane finding half a meter of space in the box and he struck an effort that went just wide.
Five minutes after the interval, Downs won a free-kick in a very promising position when Salah Mohsen brought down Thapelo Morena. Aubrey Modiba stepped up and bent the narrowly over the bar.
Soon after, Modiba whipped in another free-kick from the left-hand side to the backpost and Mauricio Affonso, who had only just come on as a substitute, got his header on target which El Shenawy managed to palm away.
Lyle Lakay was brought on for Aubrey Modiba and almost made an instant impact when he fired a driven effort that narrowly missed the upright.
In the 83rd minute, Gift Motupa played the one-two with Mauricio Affonso and he fired away an effort that was brilliantly saved by the diving El Shenawy.
Here's how they started:
Sundowns: D.Onyango, Nascimento, Lebusa, Coetzee, Morena, Modiba, Jali, Mkhulise, Zwane, Sirino, Shalulile.
Subs: Mweene, B. Onyango, Lakay, Affonso, Erasmus, Motupa, Maboe, Mudau, Mkhuma
Al Ahly: El-Shennawy; Ayman, Hany, Benoun, Yasser, Rabia, Dieng, El Soulia, Afsha; Salah, Sherif
Downs have had some top class foreign imports over the years...
