CAF Champions League: Mamelodi Sundowns Beat Al Hilal in Sudan, Masandawana Qualify at the Top of Their Group

Mamelodi Sundowns can't be caught at the top of Group A in the CAF Champions League.

The Brazilians beat Al Hilal 4-2, despite being down to ten men for a majority of the game.

Masandawana took an early lead thanks to the Namibian striker, Peter Shalulile. The marksman fired a low shot on the turn into the back of the net, but keeper, Mohamed Saeed, should have done better. With an early lead, Sundowns looked like they were going to have an easy game of it, but things turned sour in the 11th minute.

Brian Onyango was found guilty of committing a foul on the edge of the box and shown a straight red card. As the last defender, the referee found that Oyango committed a cynical foul and prevented a possible goalscoring chance.

With a one-man advantage, Al Hilal pushed forward and won numerous set-pieces. They threatened the Sundowns’ defenders with attacks but never really troubled Reyaad Pieterse in goal. Shalulile had a chance to double the lead in the 14th minute from a counter-attack but his attempt went way wide.

With Al Hilal controlling most of the game, Sundowns relied on striking on the counter and soon got their second goal. Haashim Domingo was brought down by a hand to the face and Teboho Mokoena stepped up to take the freekick.

The midfielder smashed home the freekick from a long distance to give the South African side a second. Al Hilal began to get more desperate as the game went on and started to get more physical. Despite their attempts, they still trailed at the break.

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The second half saw more goals scored

At the start of the second half, there was some concern for Mamelodi Sundowns as Pietersen took a blow to the head during a collision. Despite the keeper being on the ground, Al Hilal played on and had a shot that went wide. Sundowns were not happy with the decision but didn’t have too much time to dwell on it. Al Hilal eventually got a goal back as Yasir El Tayeb scored in the 56th minute. The player found himself free in the box and drilled a low shot into the goal.

Sundowns restored their two-goal lead just four minutes later though, as Thapelo Morena scored a smart goal. Lesedi Kaping put a ball over the top of the defenders which Morena struck on the volley. Al Hilal started to get more frustrated after conceding again and became more physical with their tackles. Ahmed Elnour was particularly lucky not to receive a straight red for a nasty challenge on Lebohang Maboe. Maboe has just returned to action from a lengthy injury and was lucky to not pick up another.

Al Hilal continued to press forward and created numerous chances as the game wore on, but never really threatened the goal. Sundowns often looked like the side with the extra player and they proved that when Morena scored his second, and the teams’ fourth, in the 89th minute. Maboe found Morena free in the box and the midfielder had time to pick out a corner to score in.

Al Hil got a consolation goal in extra time as they were awarded a questionable penalty. Pieterse was taken out by Mohamed Abdelrahman Yagoub but the referee awarded the home team a penalty. Pieterse saved the penalty, pushing it away, but Osman Eltayib put in the rebound.

Sundowns saw out the rest of the game to pick up a smart win and secure qualification as the winners of Group A.

Al Hilal only had themselves to blame for the loss as they had 26 attempts at goal but only scored two goals.

CAF Champions League: Raja Casablanca beat AmaZulu FC 2:0, Usuthu's qualification hopes remain very slim

Raja Casablanca have qualified for the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League after beating AmaZulu 2-0. The Moroccan side scored once in the first half and again in the second half to kill off the game, Sports Brief earlier reported.

Raja Casablanca scored early, taking the lead in the sixth minute of the game. Moshine Moutaouali sent in a long ball from the right-wing which Hamid Ahadad chased. AmaZulu keeper, Veli Mothwa rushed off his line as he saw the threat but Ahadad beat him to the ball.

The Raja Casablanca striker lobbed the keeper beautifully as the ball dipped into the net just shy of the crossbar. Raja Casablanca almost went two up in the 24th minute when Mothwa dropped a ball from a corner in front of Marouane Hadhoudi. The defender could not control his shot and sent it well wide.