Cairo - Mamelodi Sundowns moved another step closer to that elusive CAF Champions League winners' medal after beating Egyptian giants Zamalek 2-1 at the Petrosport Stadium in Cairo on Sunday night.
The result sees the Brazilians topping Group B with six points from two games, three points above Zamalek and six clear of Enyimba, with the top two teams qualifying for the semi-finals.
Sundowns 'remaining games are the return leg in Pretoria against Zamalek, and an away tie to Nigerian outfit Enyimba. It was not, however, all vintage stuff from the Tshwane side, who mixed up some nervy looking defending with the occasional spurt of exhilarating attacking play.
And there is still some way to go before Downs can seriously think conquering Africa this year, but they did display the kind of character and determination and killer instinct in front of goal that is required to go all the way in the competition after beating a quality Zamalek side on their home turf.
undefinedAlthough the Egyptians started the game the stronger side, Sundowns looked dangerous when using the few scraps of possession that came their way and it was Hlompho Kekana who had the first chance of the game, a typically rasping long-range drive forcing Zamalek keeper Ahmed El-Shenawy into a good save on seven minutes.
Leonardo Castro, Anthony Laffor and Keagan Dolly also flashed some inviting balls into the opposition box, while the hosts' only real chance came in the 14th minute when Wayne Arendse failed to clear a cross and the ball found its way to Ayman Hefny, but he lifted his shot over the bar.
Downs stun the Egyptians giants as we march to the top of Group B! #Sundowns #DownsLive
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) July 17, 2016
Sundowns, however, were looking up for it on attack and were in front in the 18th minute when Castro played in Khama Billiat with a lovely reverse pass, the brilliant Zimbabwean smashing his shot into the upright before Tiyani Mabunda showed excellent composure and technique to bury the rebound.
The goal put the Brazilians in command as Zamalek battled to create clear-cut opportunities and Sundowns were looking set to take their lead into the break.
Full time | (39' Ibrahim) Zamalek 1 : 2 Mamelodi Sundowns (19' Mabunda 66' Billiat)
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) July 17, 2016
But instead they were to gift the north Africans an equaliser, Mohammed Ibrahim prodding home the ball into an empty net eight minutes before half-time after goalkeeper Dennis Onyango got himself into a tangle with Thabo Nthethe on the edge of the box.
Suddenly the whole complexion of the game changed as the five-time Champions League winners found a renewed sense of belief in their play, Masandawana coach Pitso Mosimane likely to have been happy to get his players off the park at half time with the scoreline still even.
The momentum stayed with Zamalek after the restart as the Downs defence continuing to look shaky and uncertain, Onyango nearly allowing a back-pass into his own net just moments into the second half.
Bafana ba Style are back in CAF Champions League action, It's Matchday Masandawana! #Sundowns pic.twitter.com/KantxzR2ky
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) July 17, 2016
But the introduction of Percy Tau around the hour mark and a couple of tactical switches by Mosimane saw the PSL champions come storming back into the game as Billiat had a sweetly-struck shot well saved by El-Shenawy before Castro showed wonderful skill to tee himself up for a volley which crashed off the crossbar.
And the South African club was to reclaim the lead on 66 minutes when Dolly squared the ball for Billiat, who showed wonderful feet to make space for the shot in the box which he tucked away clinically into the bottom corner.
Sundowns found themselves camped in their own half for most of the final 15 minutes of the game but were well organised in defence, seeing out the game without much threat to their goal while showing a maturity and discipline that must have pleased Mosimane.
African News Agency