Sundowns dig deep for win
Another inspiring performance from Sundowns in the CAF competition.
Mamelodi Sundowns fought hard to edge out Enyimba 2-1 in their Champions League match on Wednesday in the Lucas Moripe stadium in Atteridgeville.
Two goals from Leonardo Castro and Wayne Arendse were enough to give Downs all three points in Group B.
The Brazilians came into the match knowing a win would get them closer to the semifinal.
They started the match brightly through nice interchange from Keagan Dolly and Khama Billiat in the opening 10 minutes.
After a period of dominance, Downs found the back of the net after the Enyimba defence failed to deal with Dolly’s cross.
Castro pounced off a loose ball to make it 1-0 three minutes before half-time.
The Nigerians started the second-half strongly and they were rewarded when Oluwadamilare Ojo hammered home a volley from a poor Wayne Sandilands clearance.
Sundowns would however, have the last laugh when Arendse shot at goal that went in beside Enyimba defenders trying to keep it out.
After the game, Downs coach Pitso Mosimane said the team’s win had given them confidence going forward as they prepared for the next clash.
It has put Sundowns top of the log ahead of their encounter with Egyptian giants Zamalek.
The match was effectively the Brazilians’ first after their 2-0 away win over Algerian club was annulled as ES Setif was thrown out of the competition after their supporters invaded the pitch.
In a statement last week, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said: “Regrettable incidents took place during match no.98 of the 2016 edition of CAF Champions League between ES Setif (Algeria) vs Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), whereby the referee was obliged to abandon the said match before its end.
“Match officials noted especially the pitch invasion as well as numerous throws of missiles, stones, bottles, and firecrackers, provoking a certain number of injured spectators and members of the security forces.”
Setif elimination meant that group B consisted of only three teams: Zamelek, Enyimba and Sundowns.
Mosimane and his charges had to dig deep as their three points had to be taken away ahead of their Enyimba game.
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