Mamelodi Sundowns secured hard-fought point with a 1-1 draw against St Eloi Lupopo in Lubambushi in their penultimate CAF Champions League group stage fixture on Sunday afternoon.
After the 2-1 loss in Rwanda last week to Al Hilal, who moved top of Group C, the fixture at the Stade TP Mazembe had even more pressure for head coach Miguel Cardoso and his troops.
And they got off to the worst possible start, when an off-side trap gone wrong saw the home side open the scoring in a swift counter attack through Henoc Molia Lihozasia in the 19th minute.
Sundowns looked uncomfortable in the humidity and artificial turf, which no side in Africa finds their feet to play their usual game added to the hostile atmosphere created in one of the more intimate stadiums on the continent.
But they managed to compose themselves going into the second half despite all the frustrations, finding the net eventually through Jayden Adams who headed home a pin-point corner delivery from Aubrey Modiba 10 minutes after the break.
Despite both sides looking to push for the winner in the final stages, a point was eventually shared, with the finale seeing all four clubs, still within a chance of qualifying to the knockout stages.
Sundowns will need to overcome MC Alger at Loftus, led by former head coach and fan favourite Rulani Mokwena.
