Mamelodi Sundowns have secured their spot in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals with a 5-2 thrashing of Al Ahly on Saturday afternoon.
Cassius Mailula, who scored against Stellenbosch FC last Sunday, started along with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena and Marcelo Allende, whereas Percy Tau lined-up in the attack for Al Ahly.
Masandawana needed just three minutes to go ahead after Zwane played a loose pass to the edge of the area for Allende, who set himself up and rifled the ball into the bottom-corner.
The Cairo Red Devils levelled nine minutes later when the host conceded possession high-up and Mohamed Sherif pounced with a first-time shot into the near corner of Williams’ goal.
Sundowns regained advantage at the midway stage when Zwane beat the offside trap and tucked in from close-range as Ahly failed to deal with a Sundowns corner-kick.
As the visitors chased a response, the Brazilians bagged a third goal after Mokoena collected possession from 30-yards out and blasted in off the underside of the bar late in the first half.
Sundowns were out firing in the second half and looked for a fourth goal with shots from Peter Shalulile, Zwane and Neo Maema, but neither trio capitalised.
The Cairo Red Devils got a lifeline 30 minutes from the break when Tau charged in from the left of the area and drilled in from a tight angle in the box to reduce the deficit.
Masandawana restored their two-goal advantage as Maema wriggled out of two challengers outside the area and picked out Shalulile to riffle in from the near side.
Coach Rhulani Mokwena introduced a double alteration in the last eight minutes in Sipho Mbule for Mailula before Zwane pulled out for Haashim Domingo.
The Brazilians bagged a fifth goal with three minutes to play as Shalulile held off one challenge in the box and opened space to fire in the bottom-corner.
At the other end, the visitors could’ve added a third through a header at the far post by Tau but he found the post as the host survived the late seconds for an emphatic win.
Confirmed line-ups:
Sundowns: Williams, Kekana, Mudau, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Allende, Zwane, Mailula, Maema, Shalulile
Subs: D.Onyango, Boutouil, B.Onyango, Domingo, Mbule, Morena, Ralani, Mashego, Ngobeni
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