Wydad end Sundowns’ Champions League dream
Twice Sundowns looked headed for the final, but Wydad showed strong character to come back and claim the big win.
Yahya El Idrissi of Wydad celebrates goal with teammates during the CAF Champions League 2022/23 Semifinal match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Loftus Stadium, Pretoria on Saturday. (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
The thousands of Mamelodi Sundowns fans who filles up Loftus Versfeld were left stunned as Wydad Casablanca pulled an upset, winning the Caf Champions League semifinal after a 2-2 draw.
The draw means Wydad advance to the final on away goal rule. The first leg in Morocco ended in a goalless draw. Sundowns needed a win to advance.
And twice they looked headed for the final, but Wydad showed strong character to come back and claim the big win.
They now have a chance to defend the title they won last season. For Sundowns, the dream to add a second star on their badge remains just that, a dream.
It was a scary start for Masandawana when in the first minute of the game, Siphelele Mkhulise’s cleared went awry, but Ronwen Williams was fortunately alert and prevented an own goal.
Sundowns had a few chances in the first half but could not find the back of the net with the Wydad keeper proving his worth in goals.
Wydad also had a few moments of their own where they looked threatening but Sundowns managed to deal with those situations.
Their best chance however came in the 19th minute and their striker should.havw done better in a one-on-one with Abdel Boutouil.
Peter Shalulile had a glorious chance as well, he was set through on goal and managed to round the keeper. But when he tried a shot with a left foot, he miscued.
Sundowns continued looking and were finally rewarded in the 49th minute when Themba Zwane put them ahead.
The goal jolted Wydad into action as they looked for the equaliser.
Williams made a big save to deny Wydad the equaliser in the 70th minute. But from the resultant corner, Wydad found the equaliser.
This out Sundowns under immense pressure as the draw was not enough for them.
Shalulile restored the lead for Sundowns in the 79th minute, finishing off an enterprising and typical Sundowns move.
And Wydad’s claims of a hand ball before the goal was scored were denied even after hhe VAR check.
But three minutes later, Wydad were back in the game when Mothobi Mvala misdirected a header as he tried to clear from a free kick and sent the ball into his own net.
