Mamelodi Sundowns have secured a historic double over record 10-time African champions Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League group stage after their 1-0 win at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Sundowns who have been unable to use their usual home turf the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium due to it not meeting CAF requirements took the game to the calabash along with 2000 fans allowed to enter the iconic arena.
The build-up to the fixture was slightly marred by Ahly launching an official complaint to the match commissioner over fans allegedly blocking their team bus from entering the stadium.
However, they managed to do their warm-ups on time despite the blip in schedule… but that’s where it ended in terms of their planning for the encounter went.
Sundowns dominated large parts of the time with Peter Shalulile starting as a wide left inside forward while Haashim Domingo was fielded as a false nine ahead of Themba Zwane.
The tactical change saw a different Sundowns to that of the one who sat back and attacked on the counter in the 1-0 win in Cairo last month as they controlled the pace of the game despite having only 36% possession as they closed down the Red Devils spaces and forced them into areas where they were unable to test Kennedy Mweene.
Mothibi Mvala almost opened the scoring when Zwane teed him up just inside the area after 20 minutes but his effort struck the upright, only for Shalulile to find the opening goal from the resulting corner.
The Brazilians had a host of chances, with five of their 12 shots on target and could have put the game to bed early in the second half, but their attacking talisman’s first-half striker proved to be the difference.
Shalulile’s goal puts Sundowns clear in Group A with 10 points, six ahead of second-placed Ahly while Al Hilal and Al-Merrikh who are in third and fourth place, also have four points.
