Mamelodi Sundowns secured a 1-0 advantage over The Royal Armed Forces Sports Association (ASFAR) in the first leg CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday evening.
In the sold out fixture at Loftus Versfeld, the excitment was palpable from the moment you arrived in Tshwane, with the streets packed with supporters, streets filled yellow and around 1000 ASFAR fans between them as the away support, which were afforded a section in the top tier of the packed stadium.
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The home fans did their part, creating a euphoric experience like none experienced this season, as they looked to aid their side to their second star since 2016 – just a year after their heartbreak against Pyramids.
And the game didn’t disappoint, with Miguel Cardoso, who is in his third consecutive final in the competition, setting up his side to perfection, to limit ASFAR to the odd counter and starve them of possession, as they had around 21% at the break, while Sundowns had the lead through a stunner on 38 minutes, from Aubrey Modiba.
The Bafana Bafana left-back netted a sumptuous free-kick from just outside the area, leaving Reda Tagnaouti flailing at the effort, to send the Yellow Nation into ecstasy, and that continued throughout the 90 minutes, despite an extended delay before the second half kicked off due to Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) issues.
In the end it was announced that both Sundowns and ASFAR had agreed to continue without it – but around the 68th minute, the stadium announcer confirmed it was up and running again.
In between – what could have been a major controversy for the final – Sundowns had three gilt-edged chances, two from Brayan Leon, the first saved by Tagnaouti, the second, sent wide of the post and third – Kutlwano Letlhaku, a surprise starter, saw his effort saved too.
ASFAR still looked to probe, moving the ball swiftly on the counter at every attempt, but they were thwarted by a disciplined back-line of the Brazilians, with Khuliso Mudau, Keanu Cupido, Khulumani Ndamane and Modiba, near-perfect.
There was a massive distraction around the 75th minute, when ASFAR fans looked to have started a brawl in the stands with Sundowns supporters, which then translated to a fight with security and police, but the game continued as the incident was calmed down.
Teboho Mokoena also went close with five minutes to go, hitting the upright from his free-kick around 25 meters out as Sundowns went on to secure the slender win.
However, they may live to rue the missed chances – when they travel to Rabat next week for the return leg at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium.
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