Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies suffered a surprise defeat in their opening match of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League against debutants FC Masar of Egypt at Laarbi Zaouli Stadium.
Sandrine Niyonkuru’s late penalty in the first half was enough for the Egyptian side to claim the biggest scalp and record a historic victory against the champions in Group B.
Masar’s intentions to get a goal came as early as the first whistle through Mahira Ali but she hit the cross bar. Ali had several shots in the half, in the 13th minute she shot from the edge of the box but the ball went over the bar.
Four minutes later it was she again when she got inside the box, however this time Sundowns defence made a clearance. Two minutes from that Karabo Dhlamini sent he ball into the box looking for Melinda Kgadiete and Lelona Daweti but the opposition defence were quicker to get to the ball.
In the 20th minute Masar caused trouble again for the Hollywoodbets Super League champions when Ali found Hasnath Ubamba in the box and Sundowns were saved by referee’s flag.
Seven minutes later Daweti found Lebo Ramalepe who did well to eliminate defenders and take a shot, forcing the goalkeeper to tip the ball out for a corner and nothing came from the set-piece. Masar had an immediate response with Ubamba finding Ali who took a close shot but Sedilame Bosija made an easy collection. Sundowns had a chance to take the lead when they won a corner in the 37th minute.
Kholosa Biyana stepped up and sent the ball to Tiisetso Makhubela’s head but the latter’s attempt went over the bar. There was another chance for Sundowns to break the deadlock from Boitumelo Rabale but she shot too high at the stroke of half-time.
Two minutes later Sundowns were made to regret not converting as they gave away a penalty after Makhubela brought down Sandrine Niyonkuru in the box. Niyonkuru took the spot-kick and sent Bosija the wrong way to break the dead lock and give her side the lead at halftime.
The opening minutes of the second half didn’t produce much in terms goal attempt action from both sides. 10 minutes into the stanza Kgadiete appeared to have been brought down in the Masar box but referee didn’t give a penalty.
Kgadiete could have equalised two minutes after the hour mark with the keeper to beat but missed the target. Kgadiete also missed another opportunity two minutes later with her head from a Daweti cross.
Sundowns continued their search for an equaliser in the in the 70th and 72nd minutes, with Dhlamini finding Daweti twice in the box and the 25-year-old couldn’t convert on both occasions.
Ramalepe could have saved Sundowns’ blushes had she converted late with five minutes left on the clock from a Oratile Mokwena cross. Sundowns’ next match is against CBE FC of Ethiopia on Wednesday after their opener against fellow new comers Edo Queens later on Sunday evening.
