Downs book Champions League final spot

Anthony Laffor of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates his goal with his teammates during the CAF Champions League semi-final match against Zesco. �Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Anthony Laffor of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates his goal with his teammates during the CAF Champions League semi-final match against Zesco. �Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Published Sep 24, 2016

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Mamelodi Sundowns 2

Laffor 05, Tau 63

Zesco United 0

Fantastic Mamelodi Sundowns made it to the final of the CAF Champions League after a decade and half.

They did it against all odds in a fabulous fashion when they subjected Zesco United to a 2-0 defeat in front of a near capacity venue last night. On a night to remember Anthony Laffor and Percy Tau scored in each half as Pitso Mosimane moved closer to his dream of getting Sundowns the star above their badge. Even Sundowns boss Patrice Motsepe strutted around the pitch after fulltime to the loudest cheers from Sundowns supporters sang adoringly about the men who engineered Sundowns making the final after 15 years.

The masses were still settling into their seats when the home side unsettled the visitors. Anthony Laffor was responsible for creating happiness. When the Liberian was at the end of a Keagan Dolly cross inside the box, he controlled wonderfully and lost his marker before slotting the much needed goal sending everyone in yellow into ecstasy.

Zesco looked for a response and they nearly leveled matters 10 minutes after Laffor’s goal. Their danger man Jackson Mwanza, who scored a brace in the first leg, broke away on counter. The Chipolopolo forward was one on one with advancing keeper Denis Onyango. Mwanza looped the ball over Onyango but his effort hit the crossbar on its way out.

Sundowns players were on the roll. A brilliant move saw Laffor finding Khama Billiat with a header in the middle of the park and Billiat looped the ball over Zesco defence for Percy Tau to pounce on. Tau offloaded to Dolly but the South African youth international’s shot lacked power hence keeper Jackson Banda dived to block the goal.

Zesco defence was not that great. They were breached several times but Sundowns players didn’t capitalize as they shot waywardly to let them off the hook. Sundowns were also living dangerously at the back allowing Zesco forwards to take them on. Clatous Chama and Jackson Mwanza combined well down the left with Chama eliminating Asavela Mbekile and Wayne Arendse. Luckily for Sundowns Onyango came off his line to thwart the danger.

Downs midfielder Tiyani Mabunda had a brilliant game. Defensively he covered the back four very well and offensively he was also effective. Few minutes before the end of the first half, Mabunda unleashed a ferocious shot from 23 yards but it ricocheted off the cross bar triggering the home crowd into “eish, aha! Shoo!” reactions.

In the second half, Sundowns had a chance when Billiat got away to pounce on a long clearance from the back. The Zimbabwean controlled consummately with his trademark and his marker bundled the ball but it became favorable for Billiat to hit a half volley that was covered by Banda. The Zambians also had a chance with Jesse Were, whose shot from the edge of the box got saved by Onyango.

Onyango’s counterpart Banda could do nothing to stop Sundowns’s second goal. Mabunda launched counter attack by releasing Dolly down the middle and Dolly brought in Billiat, who offloaded to Tebogo Langerman, who put in a cross for one of the shortest men of the pitch Tau, who rose superbly to head past a bewildered Banda. Songs of jubilation broke out everywhere inside the stadium as Sundowns celebrated. Hugs and high fives were exchanged by majority of people in Atteridgeville and elsewhere around the country.

After all it was well deserved as Sundowns marched to the final of the CAF Champions League where they are likely to face Egyptian giants Zamalek. Sundowns will be at home in the first leg of the final, which is to be played on the weekend of the October 14.

I ndependent Media

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