A last-minute goal with thanks to Walid El Karti enabled Egyptian side pyramids to grab a 1-1 draw against South African giants Mamelodi-Sonondang in the first leg final of the Caf Champions League in Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Masandewana had searched for a slim benefit of the game after they took the lead in the 54th minute when Lucas Ribeiro produced individual sparkle to find the back of the net. With seconds, however, Walid El Karti surprised sunset with a clinical finish to bind the game on the way to the Return Leg final on 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday 1 June.
Sunday's head coach Miguel Cardoso looked at their second cafe Champions League trophy and won it in 2016 and paraded a strong starting XI. Ronwen Williams started between the sticks; Khuliso Mudau, Grant Kekana and Mosa Lebusa played in the backline of three players; Lucas Ribeiro, Toho Mokoena, Marcelo Allende and Aubrey Modiba strengthened midfield; The Brazilian Arthur de Oliveira sales took the striking role assisted by Tashreq Matthews from the right wing.
In the meantime, Piramides Coach Krunoslav Jurcic kept confidence with goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy, and he was protected by Mohamed Hamdy, Ahmed Samy, Mahmoud Marei and Mohamed Chibi while the midfield ran around Ibrahim Adel, Blati Toure; Dr. Congo International Fiston Mayele, who was influential when the Egyptian Outfit Orlando Pirates defeated 3-2 in the quarterfinals, started in advance alongside Moroccan Walid El Karti.
A shot from the MatchCaf -Media
With just five minutes played, Pyramids almost surprised the home crowd when Mayele combined with Walid El Karti, but the right exchange of the former was blocked by Lebusa.
Two minutes later, sundowns threatened in the game for the first time when Mudau dedicated in a cross in the box, but El Shenawy did well to erase the danger, even though the ball took a bit of a bit.
In the 20th minute, the Brazilian Oliveira sale shot a right-wing rocket on the distant pole while sundowns close to breaking the impasse in Soweto.
Three minutes later, Sundowns were scared after their keeper Williams were injured and needed medical help. However, the Bafana Bafana's keeper returned to the joy of the yellow army that had filled the stadium.
Piramides threatened again when Mohanad Lasheen squared Ibrahim Adel, who controlled the ball outside the box and unleashed a powerful effort, but Williams made an excellent salvation to prevent the visitors from leading the lead.
The momentum immediately waved in favor of sundowns, where Arthur sale was unark from outside the box after an incurring movement initiated by Tashreq Matthews, but his left shot missed the target.
Matthews – who was injured by Ahmed Samy while he shot forward – could not stand the pain and was replaced by Jayden Adams towards the end of the first half.
The last meaningful chance of the first half fell to sunset in the 44th minute. Marcelo Allende crossed the ball from the right wing, but even though he was not marked, Arthur sales went wide to waste an opportunity for the Brazilians. There was nothing to separate the two parties when they went during the break with 0-0.
A shot from the MatchCaf -Media
Piramides started the second period on the wrong foot after Ahmed Atef had committed a hard mistake with the advancing Arthur sales in the 46th minute and was warned with a yellow card by Sudanese referee Mahmoud Ismail.
Six minutes later, Lucas Ribeiro Costa opened the score for sunset against the Run of Play. The attacking midfielder took its way into the box before he passed the ball with his left foot in the top corner past El-Sjenawy.
The goal rejuvenated sunset while they kept looking for the second, and in the 57th minute Mahmoud Marei committed an error to interrupt their game that Ibrahim Adel was still making an error in an attempt to slow the South African giants.
Iqraam Rayners came close to the score on 2-0 for sunset in the 68th minute when his excellent shot with the right foot was blocked by a pyramid defender on the way to the net. Sundowns continued to attack, but Pyramids resorted to defensive play and crossed the home team on many occasions.
The frustrating representation of pyramids led Cardoso to make his first change for sunset, in which Namibia came in Peter Shalulile for Rayners in the 78th minute before Arthur Sales was withdrawn for Neo Maema in an attempt to play and unlock the defensive style of their opponent.
Pyramids responded with its own replacement; Ahmed ATEF, who was already booked in the first half, was withdrawn for Ramadan Sobhi with only 10 minutes to the last whistle. Cardoso then rested goal scorer Ribeiro for Thapelo Morena when Sundowns did not add to their count.
Pyramids almost leveled things in the 78th minute when Ahmed Samy hit a shot from outside the box with his right foot, but Williams made a wonderful salvation to deny the Egyptians.
Piramides then brought out Mayele for Marwan Hamdi and he turned the provider to set up Walid El Karti to score and giving them the goal on their way to the return leg of the final.
Authorflash score