CAPE TOWN – Percy Tau, Yannick Zakri and Soumahoro Bangaly missed penalties as defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns were knocked out of the Caf Champions League by Wydad Casablanca in Rabat on Saturday night.
Wydad won the quarter-final second leg 1-0 after 90 minutes, which meant that the tie was level at 1-1 on aggregate.
Salaheddine Saidi scored the only goal of the game in the 26th minute with a well-timed header at the far post, with the Sundowns defence caught ball-watching.
Ugandan superstar goalkeeper Denis Onyango had kept Masandawana in the game with a series of fine saves in the opening exchanges, but this time he had no chance to make yet another dramatic stop.
Masandawana appeared to have a clear chance on goal in stoppage time when Percy Tau turned smartly and left defender Amine Atouchi for dead with his speed.
Atouchi, though, pulled out what resembled a rugby tackle to bring down the pacy Sundowns forward, and the referee dished out just a yellow card instead of a red.
Kekana’s free kick went over the Wydad wall and was on target, but it lacked sufficient power to beat goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti.
That saw the game go into a penalty shoot-out after 90 minutes, and a raucous home crowd roared on Wydad.
George Lebese stepped up and silenced the “red tide”, though, with a well-struck penalty, and then Onyango showed once again why he is arguably the best goalkeeper on the African continent when he blocked Atouchi’s tame effort.
But Tau would’ve wanted to disappear down a hole after he blasted his penalty over the top, which allowed Wydad back into the shoot-out.
Percy Tau also sent his spot-kick over the crossbar. Photo: Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix
Motjeka Madisha converted his spot-kick, and Wydad followed suit, and it was level at 2-2.
But Yannick Zakri, who scored in the first leg in Atteridgeville, hardly generated any power in a weak attempt, which made for an easy save for Wydad goalkeeper Tagnaouti.
With the Wydad supporters shining lasers from the stands to affect Onyango’s concentration, the home team went in front at 3-2, which meant that Sundowns had to score to keep the match alive.
Big Ivorian defender Bangaly walked up, but sent his shot over the top to end the dream of successfully defending the title for Pitso Mosimane’s men.
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