Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies couldn’t beat Double Action from Botswana and now need to worry about making the COSAFA finals to defend their title from last year.
After going behind against the run-of-play in the 21st minute via an own goal from Tiisetso Makhubela, Melinda Kgadiete levelled matters five minutes later, scrambling the ball over the line.
Despite dominating the first half, at the break it remained 1-1.
Sundowns continued their domination after the break, and Andisiwe Mgcoyi should have put Downs in front five minutes into the second half, but just needing to tap in, she fluffed her shot.
The woodwork denied Lelona Kaweti in the 70th minute, with her shot from the edge of the area hitting the upright, but Sundowns weren’t having it all their way.
Double Action almost went ahead two minutes later, as their captain Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse hit the side-netting, with Andile Dlamini caught out of her goal. Moments later Dlamini had to make a save from the same player.
Double Action will now face Mozambique’s Costa Do Sol and will need to beat them by a score better of Masandawana’s 8-1 in order to progress, with Downs Ladies only being able to watch from the sidelines.
The winners of Group A will face the winners of Group B in the final of the COSAFA region. The winners in Durban will advance to the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League finals that are to be held in Morocco later in the year, and where local side AS FAR await as hosts.
