Mamelodi Sundowns secured their second CAF Champions League title, ending a decade long wait with a historic 2-1 aggregate win over ASFAR, sealing the victory in a hostile, sold out Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat on Sunday.
The opening 20 minutes was fierce, from the stands to the pitch, with every Sundowns touch on the ball greeted with deafening whistles and jeers from the sold out Prince Moullay Abdallah, where they 5 000 odd travelling fans of Sundowns were swallowed within the euphoric atmosphere dominated by the ASFAR ultras.
Physical, intense, high press, the game that defines Alexandre Santos’ playing style was on full display but it took until the 15th minute for a clear-cut chance when captain Mohamed Rabie Hrimat was played in on goal but saw his effort fly over Ronwen Williams’ cross bar.
If the noise levels weren’t enough, flares were directed to Williams and Khuliso Mudau at some point, in attempts to unsettle two of their key performers, but while the quickly and notably did not factor – Masandawana were under immense pressure.
Teboho Mokoena and Jayden Adams, along with Tashreeq Matthews were looking for those surging runs to break the midfield and defensive lines, and the latter came closest to making an impact, with a long-range strike sailing just over Ahmed Red Tagnaouti’s post.
The home side eventually got themselves ahead after relentless pressure, in which Santos’ side doubled up on the Mudau and Lunga on several occasions and it was the latter – who conceded a penalty after a Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) check.
Hrimat stepped up to slot the ball calmly home past Williams and it appeared to be the start of the comeback, as Sundowns struggled to keep up with the waves of attacks.
However, on the brink of half-time, Brayan Leon, who had earlier fluffed a great effort to grab Sundowns a goal, put in a crisp cross that Tashreeq Matthews inadvertently flicked on for Teboho Mokoena to fire home an unstoppable strike in off the post to stun and silence the home supporters.
You could hear a pin drop in the humid conditions at half-time with the sun setting in the background and Sundowns heading into the dressing room brimming with confidence that the job is almost done, the 5000-strong travelling support could finally be heard and it dented the hopes for the home side – chasing their first African Champions League title since the ’80s.
Miguel Cardoso made the change of taking off Kutlwano Letlaku at the break for Marcelo Allende, moving Nuno Santos out wide – before Arthur Sales replaced him on the hour mark.
It added much needed stability and structure the their game, with the ability to keep hold of possession for much longer spells than the gruelling opening half.
It appeared as the tactical masterclass would pay off but around the 72nd mark, the Moroccan giants were handed a life-line with another penalty, after another VAR review, with Williams comitting the foul this time around.
Hrimat once more stepped up to the spot, but Williams pulled off a wonder save to deny the skipper his second goal and send Sundowns on their way to secure the title, seeing off the final ten minutes of a the brutal encounter.
