Mamelodi Sundowns have one foot in the final after winning away from home against Espérance Sportive de Tunis on Sunday.
In a 60,000-packed Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, the first leg between ES Tunis and Sundowns kicked off. In the first 20 minutes, both sides looked cautious, trying to play in safe zones.
The first opportunity came in the 26th minute from a header, but Khuliso Mudau made an excellent block and was fouled afterwards.
Sundowns came close in the 28th minute after Arthur Sales’ shot deflected got deflected by a ES Tunis defender, resulting in a corner kick.
ES Tunis nearly took the lead in the 33rd minute when Florian Danho ran behind Sundowns’ defense and took a wonderful shot that hit the upright.
Minutes later, a great pass from Ibrahima Keita set up Danho, who nearly got through to face the goalkeeper, but Grant Kekana made a brilliant tackle. A quick corner was taken, and although there was a great header, Ronwen Williams made a brilliant save.
Sundowns were holding on for their lives with seven minutes before half-time, but the first half ended goalless, with ES Tunis having more chances than Sundowns.
The second half kicked off with Sundowns having a good start; Divine Lunga played a cross into the box, which Bryan Leon connected well with his head, but ES Tunis goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said pushed the ball wide.
Sundowns broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute after Jaydan Adams played a diagonal ball to Thapelo Morena, who played a one-time cross to Leon, and the Colombian pounced, beating Ben Said to make it 1-0.
ES Tunis thought they had equalized when Aboubacar Diakite scored, but after a VAR check, the goal was canceled because Ronwen Williams was fouled in the build-up. The score remained 1-0 to Sundowns with 20 minutes to play.
Sundowns managed to hold on for full time and will head back home with a 1-0 lead, needing only a draw to seal their spot in the CAF Champions League final for a second successive season.
The second leg will be played in Pretoria, Loftus Versfeld Stadium, on Saturday next weekend.
