Bees sting mighty Mamelodi Sundowns before bowing out

Joseph Chikila put Bees ahead on 16 minutes after a comedy of errors by the hosts at Loftus Versfeld, a Pretoria stadium Sundowns share with Super Rugby club Northern Bulls.

It took the 2016 CAF Champions League winners until the first minute of the second half to draw level when Hlompho Kekana fired past outstanding Bees goalkeeper Khanya Mini.

The decisive goal came after 76 minutes when New Zealand international Jeremy Brockie set up Thapelo Morena to score from close range.

Sundowns, who rested several first choices including star attacker Percy Tau, comfortably contained the lower-league outfit in the closing stages to book a quarter-finals place.

"The goal we conceded came from a series of stupid mistakes," said Sundowns assistant coach Manqoba Mngqithi, who was in charge as Pitso Mosimane is attending a coaching course in Morocco.

"It is no surprise that the Bees goalkeeper won the man-of-the-match award as he defied us many times during an opening half we dominated.

"He kept them in the game, but I knew our opponents would tire as the second half progressed as they could not cope with the tempo of the game."

Bees coach Chippa Njedu hailed his team for a brave showing in a match many pundits believed would be far more one-sided. 

"Well done to my team, especially for their first half performance, although the boys did not play the way we planned to," he said.

"We showed Sundowns too much respect after half-time and conceded a couple of soft goals. I believe we have learnt a lot from playing such a big team."

The last-16 round concludes on Wednesday with a much anticipated clash between Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates.