Mamelodi Sundowns went down 2-1 to Wydad Casablanca in the first-leg of the African Football League final on Sunday evening.
Masandawana made two changes from Wednesday’s semi-final second-leg against Al Ahly, with Teboho Mokoena coming in for Mothobi Mvala while Gaston Sirino made way for Lesiba Nku.
Wydad made their intensions clear early on when Montasser Lahtimi beat Abdelmounaim Boutouil and Grant Kekana to cut inside on the right and get in a shot, but Rivaldo Coetzee intervened with a solid block.
The South African champions found the going very tough and struggled to get any passing rhythm going nor a license to build out and play from the back as Wydad pressed aggressively.
Masandawana’s first shot in anger came in the last ten minutes of the half when Nku raced down the left following a long ball and fired against the side-netting after getting goal sight.
Wydad made their strong start count in the four minutes before the break when Lahtimi showed Boutouil and Nku a clean pair of heels to cross from the right and witnessed Coetzee turn the ball into his own net.
Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena provided a double change in an attempt to get something going, with Lebohang Maboe in for Maseko and Mosa Lebusa on the park for Kekana.
Masandawana finally worked the opposing goalkeeper Youssef El Moutie midway in the second half as a powerful long-range free-kick by Mokoena forced the shot-stopper to palm away.
Although after a strong of corner-kicks, Sundowns were awarded a penalty following a hand-ball off Mokoena’s shot with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) approached and Boutouil stepped up to fire in off El Moutie’s glove.
However, The Red Devils were back in front in the last 12 minutes as Anas Serrhat got on the shoulder of the area and latched onto a loose ball to fire in off Williams.
With the match lively late on, Wydad threatened a third when El Houni cracked the woodwork with a first-time shot following a cutback.
The miss didn’t matter as the host ended on the winning side and face the same opposition in the return-leg next Sunday in Tshwane.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Modiba, Coetzee, Boutouil, Kekana, Mudau, Mokoena, Nku, Allende, Zwane, Maseko
Subs: D.Onyango, De Reuck, Lebusa, B.Onyango, Zungu, Sirino, Mashego, Mkhulise, Mabena, Mvala, Maema, Maboe
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