Leon Header Hands Sundowns Vital CAF CL Away Win
Mamelodi Sundowns secured a historic 1-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final on Sunday, surviving a late red card and a VAR scare to claim their first-ever win on Tunisian soil.
Masandawana recalled Keanu Cupido, Thapelo Morena, Divine Lunga and Teboho Mokoena after the 1-0 win over Durban City in midweek.
The South African champions were given a tough start and they needed a point-blank save from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to smother a teasing shot from Hamza Jelassi.
Sundowns came alive on the half-hour mark and worked an opening when a first-time shot outside the area by Arthur Sales forced the host to make a gallant defensive-block.
The Taraji, however, carved out the best chance of the game two minutes later after a powerful shot by Florian Danho rattled the top of the crossbar, while Mohamed Tougai went close in the final five minutes from a corner but Williams was on hand to make another good save.
Colombian ace Brayan Leon was given a big chance for the visitors a minute into the second half with a close-range header in the area, but Esperance goalkeeper Ben Said made a superb save.
Leon atoned for the miss minutes later when he charged into the area to beat two defenders to turn home Mudau’s cross with a lovely header in the six-yard area.
Esperance looked for a quick response with a forward pass to the box picking out Danho, but Williams came out and smothered the threat.
The Taraji found the net in the midway stage through a header by Aboubacar Diakite, but after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention, it was disallowed for a foul on Williams.
Masandawana refreshed personnel around the final ten minutes to the break and introduced Tashreeq Matthews ahead of Sales. However, Sundowns were down to ten men with five minutes to go after Grant Kekana received a straight red card for a cynical challenge.
The Brazilians sustained the wave of late pressure and collected a vital first-leg victory on the road, while they also tasted victory Esperance in Tunisia for the first time in their history.
