Despite losing 1-0 to Zamalek in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final at the Borg El-Arab Stadium on Sunday night, Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned Champions of Africa’s biggest club competition after winning 3-1 on aggregate.
The first shot on goal came in the sixth minute courtesy of Khama Billiat, but the Sundowns man saw his 30-yard effort sail just wide of the target.
In the 13th minute Zamalek threatened for the first time when a good passing move saw Stanley Ohawuchi work his way into the box, but his 14-yard shot shaved the wrong side of the post.
Sundowns suffered a bit of a set-back in the 28th minute when goalkeeper Dennis Onyango had to leave the field injured and was replaced by Wayne Sandilands.
Sandilands’ first significant contribution of the game came in the 42nd minute when he denied Zamalek’s Ahmed Tawfik with a superb acrobatic save from 16-yards out.
A minute later, Sundowns came close to finding the opening goal when a swift counter-attack concluded with Billiat driving into the box before his shot was deflected onto the top of the crossbar.
The half ended 0-0 with Sundowns leading 3-0 on aggregate over the two leg tie.
Zamalek came out firing in the second half and almost took the lead on the night in the 54th minute when Ali Gabar headed a corner-kick just over the target.
Ten minutes later, Zamalek did find a goal when a powerful 30-yard shot from Stanley Ohawuchi found the bottom corner of the net, 1-0 (3-1 on aggregate).
Sundown sat back in defence thereafter and invited the Egyptian side to attack, and attack they did, but the Brazilians’ defence held firm as the match ended 1-0.
The result meant that Sundowns were crowned the CAF Champions League winners 3-1 in aggregate over the two leg final.
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