Mamelodi Sundowns failed to reach the final of the CAF Champions League when they lost 1-0 to Esperance at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday night. The result means the South Africans will have to try again next year as they suffered a 2-0 defeat via aggregate.
In search of a win and to reverse the 1-0 loss they suffered in Tunis last weekend, Rulani Mokwena made changes from his starting eleven when they faced Sekhukhune United in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday.
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The Brazilians needed a win by two or three goals to secure a spot in the final for the first time since 2016 when they lifted the trophy.
Mokwena Makes Three Changes in Sundowns’ Line-Up
Mokwena opted to start with Rivaldo Coetzee, Thapelo Maseko and Peter Shalulile while Themba Zwane, Aubrey Modiba as well as Thembinkosi Lorch were benched for the crucial encounter.
At the same time, the Brazilians missed midfielder Teboho Mokoena who is still nursing a niggling injury he sustained against Moroka Swallows a fortnight ago.
Sundowns vs Esperance: Drama-Filled First Half
Sundowns started like a house on fire and took the game to their visitors and Maseko came close to hitting the target in the 20th minute when he saw his header sailing over the crossbar. There was drama at the venue when the floodlights went off due to the lightning and heavy rain, the referee halted the match and ordered the players to go to the dressing room.
After about an hour and 10 minutes, the match resumed from the 21st minute as the lightning and the rain subsided. Sundowns kept probing for an early goal but the keeper, Amanallah Memmiche denied Divine Lunga and Shalulile from close range.
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On the stroke of half-time, the Brazilians came close to securing a goal when Shalulile was denied by the 20-year-old who punched the header over the crossbar from Lucas Ribeiro’s beautiful cross.
Sundowns fans protested for a free-kick when Shalulile looked to be pushed in the box but the referee didn’t even consult the VAR officials as keeper Ronwen Williams spent the entire half as a spectator – it ended 1-0 at half-time via aggregate for the visitors.
Sundowns Desperate for a Goal
Upon their return from the tunnel, Masandawana had the same energy and Shalulile had another opportunity but he was unbelievably denied by the upright. Esperance kept the back door shut and managed to catch Sundowns on a counter-attack and they grabbed the lead through Raech Bouchniba in the 57th minute. He beat Williams with a powerful low shot.
Sundowns made changes and Mokwena introduced Zwane, Lorch and Modiba. Just after the substitutions, the Namibia international ballooned his effort over the crossbar.
The hosts were getting frustrated and kept probing for an equaliser, but it wasn’t meant to be as Ribeiro could not hit the target in the 76th minute – his effort sailed over the posts.
Modiba cut through his opponent in the heart of the park and unleashed a rocket which hit the woodwork and bounced back, allowing the visitors to clear it. Despite all the efforts in the dying stages of the match, Masandawana fired blanks and failed to progress to the final.
Sundowns – What’s Next:
After this disappointing result, the Brazilians will now look to move closer to securing their seventh league trophy when they take on TS Galaxy on Monday, April 29.
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