Lucas Moripe Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns (2)3
Laffor 31, Langerman 40, Hamed 46 OG,
Zamalek 0
Lucas Moripe Stadium - Sundowns’ players walked into this venue for the pitch inspection dressed immaculately.
They wore navy, clean cut suits as if to remind those who might have forgotten why they are called Bafana BaStyle. They carried that stylish tip to the match, driven by the desire to add a gold star to their wardrobe, outclassing a club that has five of those stars in search of their maiden CAF Champions League title.
It’s a trophy that coach Pitso Mosimane has been obsessed with even when he led a SuperSport United side whose ambitions didn’t go beyond the South African borders when he took over. On Friday Mosimane moved a step closer to realising that dream thanks to players he has complicated relationships with.
Tebogo Langerman and Anthony Laffor are both, without a doubt, important figures at Sundowns. They like to be pampered while they don’t react well to harsh criticism. They either use that criticism to fuel them and perform, or get demoralised and that play badly. Managing them is an intricate act that takes a lot of effort, with the right words needed to get the best out of them. It showed here yesterday why that effort is worth it when they put the Brazilians ahead in style.
The lanky Liberian powered the Brazilians into the lead with a bullet of a shot just inside the box. The finish was just as good as the pass that Hlompho Kekana threaded through Zamalek’s defence. Langerman made it two with a bit of luck. His cross trickled over goalkeeper Ahmed Eshenawy. The White Knights’ players bowed down in prayer, like they always do, when referee Davies Omweno blew for halftime. But yesterday it looked like they were bowing down to a superior opposition. It looked like only divine intervention could help Zamalek get something from this match or better yet not be embarrassed.
That intervention didn’t come, instead the Egyptian club’s woes worsened when Eslam Hamed scored in his own net seconds into the second half. Hamed was trying to clear Percy Tau’s cross just like Ali Gabr did the last time Zamalek were here in the group stage. Even in that day it was Tau’s cross that an Egyptian directed into his own net. But this goal meant more because it put the Brazilians firmly in control going into the second leg in Alexandria on Sunday. Sundowns’ had hoped for at least a 2-0 win. The third was a bonus and the fans who packed his venue appreciated it, singing their lungs out without a vuvuzela in sight.
They could be singing all the way to the Champions League title in the second leg. The Brazilians are expected to have Leonardo Castro back then. The Colombian forward left a big void in Sundowns’ attack, without a figure who can hold the ball in the box and trouble the defenders. Laffor tries to do that, but the winger in him refuses to die down forcing him to drift wide a lot. Castro is expected back in the country this week after he received visas for his wife and new-born child which held his return from Colombia after he recovered from his injury.
Zamalek arrived here worried about the danger Castro possess. The Egyptian media asked about his availability and were relieved he wouldn’t be available. But Sundowns toyed with Zamalek even without him which makes Zamalek’s chances bleak, even though they’re playing at home, when he’ll be around.
Independent Media