Al-Hilal’s chances of making it into the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League suffered a blow on Friday after they played a goalless draw with already-qualified Mamelodi Sundowns in Omdurman.
Al-Hilal needed a win at home to keep their chances intact, but the draw sees them remain second in Group B with four points and one round of group matches left.
Mamelodi Sundowns moved to 13 points and kept their unbeaten run intact, but dropped points for the first time in the group stage after a run of four consecutive wins.
The home side will feel hard done by the result, especially on the balance of chances they created in the match.
They were denied by the post, coupled with some good goalkeeping from Ricardo Goss, who was handed his first match of the competition.
As early as the second minute, Al-Hilal were knocking on the Mamelodi Sundowns’ door.
Mugahid Farooug forced the goalkeeper to a smart save with a curling effort swung in from 20 yards out.
The goalkeeper also made a good save to deny Mohamed Yousif on the quarter hour mark.
This was when the skipper made a mazy run into the box, before unleashing a fierce low shot.
The goalkeeper was called into action again in the 19th minute, this time making another fine save to deny Farris Abdallah who struck a belter from distance.
He was on call once again in the 24th minute when Nasser Eldin Omar connected to a cross from Farris, but his connection did not gather enough pace.
In the 36th minute, Al-Hilal were denied by the upright after the goalkeeper was beaten for the first time off an Abdalla Mohamed shot from 30 yards out.
The rebound went to Farris’s path, but the midfielder headed wide.
The impressive Goss made another important save in the 43rd minute when he dived to his right to pluck out an Eldin Omar header.
This was after Farris curled in an inviting cross to the backpost.
Mamelodi Sundowns also had their chances with Sirino striking a shot wide in the fourth minute while Khuliso Mdau had a header cleared off the line.
In the second half, Al-Hilal kept the pressure on and three minutes in They had the post denying them once again.
That was when Farris struck a shot from distance, while the follow-up by Yousif was blocked at point-blank by Rushine de Reuck.
They had a late chance to get their much-sought goal, but skipper Abdelrahman curled a freekick from the edge of the box inches wide with the goalkeeper left dazed.
The home side kept the pressure, but could not get the goal to put their hopes finely poised.