Pyramids stun Sundowns with late equaliser

Pyramids FC held Mamelodi Sundowns to a credible 1-1 draw in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.

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The Egyptian side scored in the final minute of injury time to peg back the 2016 champions, who were just moments away from taking a 1-0 advantage into next Sunday’s second leg. Walid El Karti popped up at the far post to head home what could prove to be a crucial away goal for the Cairo-based side.

Sundowns put up lukewarm display

Lucas Ribeiro had given Sundowns the lead in what was a lukewarm first-leg encounter. Pyramids now hold the advantage heading into the return match in Cairo. The winner over the two legs will be crowned champions.

Downs coach Miguel Cardoso made some questionable decisions from the bench. Instead of pushing for a second goal, the Portuguese tactician adopted a conservative approach. Club captain Themba Zwane, who could have helped manage the game, was an unused substitute.

Against all expectations, Pyramids were the better team in the first half. They had two clear chances to take the lead, but Fiston Mayele squandered both.

Mayele misses

The Congolese striker beat the offside trap in the 16th minute, but his clever side-footed effort went inches wide of Ronwen Williams’ goal.

Two minutes later, Mayele blasted over the bar after being set up inside the box. A better connection would likely have seen him hit the back of the net, with the Sundowns defence in disarray.

Sundowns’ best chance of the opening half came from Iqraam Rayners, who did well to create space for himself before unleashing a powerful shot that was parried over the bar by Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy ten minutes into the game.

There was no sign of Sundowns’ usual free-flowing football, and the home fans took notice. The stadium announcer repeatedly urged them to keep singing as the noise levels dropped.

Sundowns were outplayed in midfield, and Cardoso embarrassingly substituted Tashreeq Matthews for Jayden Adams eight minutes before the break in a bid to regain control.

A better second half

Whatever Cardoso said at half-time seemed to work. Sundowns began the second half on the front foot, and Ribeiro broke the deadlock nine minutes after the restart.

Following a goalmouth scramble where Pyramids failed to clear their lines, Ribeiro controlled the ball and placed it into the top corner.

Sundowns will be crowned champions on foreign soil once again if they can overturn the away-goal advantage. The class of 2016 Sundowns had taken a healthy lead into the second leg against Zamalek.

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Goals by Anthony Laffor, Tebogo Langerman, and an own goal by Islam Gamal secured victory despite a 1-0 loss away from home.