Al Ahly head coach Marcel Koller is confident they can progress to the final of the CAF Champions League for a sixth consecutive season by beating Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo next week.
Koller acknowledged that they were facing a mammoth task to limit Sundowns at home in Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, but they achieved this, without the home side having a single shot on target.
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It was a game that was not the usual attacking DNA of the Red Devils as they fielded four centre-backs and two defensive midfielders against Masandawana, but managed to create a clear-cut chance, hitting the past through Nejc Gradišar and having a goal ruled out narrowly through an off-side call.
“We saw a great game, a tough game between two strong teams, we showed discipline in this game, and we limited Sundowns from making chances, we created chances, it was unfortunate not to score the header, but it hit the post,” Koller said.
“We know already it’s only the first half of the game, and we need to be concentrated 100% in Cairo also, we know Sundowns, away they can score and we’re happy to have not conceded here. We know we have what it takes to finish this off in Cairo.
“We know Sundowns is a great team. It was important for our team to be compact, it’s not important how much you have the ball, sometimes it’s important to have it, our players did well when on the ball. Sundowns also didn’t allow us to create many chances.”
It was the first time Koller avoided defeat in South Africa, having lost 5-2, 1-0 and a 0-0 draw in his three previous visits with the record 12-time African champions, and said it was about their experience, rather than a change of tactical style with Miguel Cardoso now at the helm.
“We have more experience [against Sundowns], we see the team of Sundowns and we analysed the team very well, we discussed this, identified where they are strong and where they are not,” Koller said.
“We worked with the team to know which part is necessary not to concede, to come with a good result from this game, well done to my team, they achieved this.”
