Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile came off the bench to help secure a 2-1 comeback win over AS Maniema Union in their CAF Champions League group stage clash on Saturday afternoon.
Union were eight minutes away from their first-ever win in their debut campaign in the group stage after three draws and a defeat in their opening four Group B games.
Japhte Kitambala’s toe-poke shortly before half-time had the home side looking towards a historic win in the nation’s capital with his strike past CAF Goalkeeper of the Year Ronwen Williams, which was very much against the run of play.
It was an incredible goal as he ran from his own half, bullying Grant Kekana and holding off Teboho Mokoena before slotting the ball beyond the Bafana Bafana captain.
And it changed the complexion of the fixture in the sweltering heat, adding to the already difficult conditions on the artificial surface at the Stade de Matrys on Saturday afternoon.
It seemed to be heading for Miguel Cardoso’s back-to-back defeats in the competition but club stalwart Shalulile had other ideas coming from the bench, with literally his first touch of the game, he headed home the equaliser to put Sundowns back into second place.
He then forced an own goal in the 96th minute which proved the winner and the last kick of the game for a dramatic finish at the death.
Sundowns end Group B at Loftus Versfeld against the Botola Pro side with the group top spot on the line, while they could eliminate Raja this evening.
