Mamelodi Sundowns maintained top spot in their CAF Champions League group after securing a crucial 1-0 win away to Pyramids FC on Tuesday evening.
CAF Champions League
Result: Pyramids FC 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 19 December 2023
Venue: 30 June Stadium
Sundowns brought back the big guns who were rested in the thumping win over Cape Town Spurs, as only Grant Kekana and Terrence Mashego retained their places, as Themba Zwane shadowed Peter Shalulile and Lucas Ribeiro Costa up top.
The Brazilians were patient on the ball in the early exchanges but they had urgency in their attacks as Teboho Mokoena opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a rocket from outside the box that found the bottom corner.
Pyramids were spirited after that as they had big chance just before the half-hour mark after Fiston Mayele went through on goal but goalkeeper Ronwen Williams rushed off his line and made a save with his feet in a one-on-one.
The visitors were forced to make a change with eight minutes left of the first stanza after Mokoena could not continue due to injury and was replaced by Bongani Zungu.
Masandawana's rhythm was not affected though, as Zwane almost doubled their lead shortly before the break but had a close-range shot saved by shot-stopper Ahmed Mayhoub.
The Brazilians controlled the game well coming from the break but only came close to doubling their lead just before the hour-mark after Aubrey Modiba's dipping shot was parried over the crossbar by Mayhoub.
Rulani Mokwena refreshed his team moments later as Ribeiro and Zwane made away for Thapelo Maseko and Gaston Sirino.
The Brazilians absorbed the pressure in the closing stages and the pace of Maseko on counter-attacks gave them a new attacking dimension and opened up spaces.
Pyramids pressurised Sundowns in the dying minutes, which forced Mokwena to close shop with a tactical change as Mothobi Mvala replaced Shalulile.
The Egyptian side had chances in the dying minutes but they were not clinical, as the Brazilians bagged the maximum points to sit top of Group A, equal on points with second-placed TP Mazembe, who beat Nouadhibou earlier in the day.
Here's how they lined up:
Pyramids: Mayob, Gabr, Sami, Chibi, Hamdy, Hafez, Lashin, Toure, Elkarti, Lakay, Mayele
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Coetzee, Modiba, Kekana, Mokoena, Mashego, Zwane, Allende, Shalulile, Ribeiro
Subs: D. Onyango, Zungu, Sirino, Mkhulise, Mbule, Morena, Maseko, Mvala, Maboe
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
