CAF Champions League - Advantage Masadawana

It turned out to a be a near-perfect afternoon for Pitso Mosimane’s side – three goals scored (Anthony Laffor, Tebogo Langerman and an own goal), and none conceded as Sundowns showed more urgency without possession and more incisiveness with the ball in front of a packed house on a gloriously sunny afternoon in Attridgeville.

The only negative was the yellow card – a debatable one at that, which will rule the excellent Wayne Arendse out of the return leg next Sunday.

It was all Sundowns in the opening half as the home side enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession and were able to create numerous chances on goal while barely having their own box threatened.

Keagan Dolly fired an early effort wildly into the stands before Thabo Nthethe got onto a free kick, but sent a powerful header just wide of the far post, while Percy Tau also had a couple of half-chances in the opening 20 minutes.

It was, therefore, a deserved lead that the home side took on the half hour mark when Hlompho Kekana threaded in Anthony Laffor, who did brilliantly to swivel towards goal before smashing the ball between goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shennawy and his near post.

Boosted by the breakthrough, the Brazilians did not look to take their feet off the gas and went in search of a second goal. And it took just 10 minutes for it to arrive, left-back Tebogo Langerman picking out the top corner from out wide with what was more likely a cross than a shot on 40 minutes.

Zamalek, who looked somewhat shell-shocked, finally had a chance on goal in first half added time, Ayman Hefny just failing to curl in a shot after he had been allowed to run into the Sundowns box.

Any thoughts of a second-half comeback by the visiting side were dashed just a minute after the break when Tau’s shot from the left-hand side of the box was turned in for an own goal by Islam Gamal.

The north African side finally began to show some purpose in attack as the game neared the hour mark and Wayne Arendse did well to get back and clear Bassem Morsi’s shot off the line.

But for the most part Downs keeper Denis Onyango found himself underworked as his defenders, aided by the hard-working Tinyani Mabunda, kept things tight and organised.

As the visitors continued to push for the all-important away goal, there did prove to be a couple of anxious moments at the back for the hosts. 

The second leg will take place next Sunday night (23 October) in Alexandria