South Africa/Zambia: Sundowns Beat Zambian Giants to Reach CAF Finals

Mamelodi Sundowns put in a master class in tactical and technical football to overcome a 2 – 1 deficit against Zambian side Zesco United at the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium, comfortably winning the second-leg semi-final 2 – 0.

The win has earned the Tshwane giants a spot in the finals of the CAF Champions League – the second final spot they earned this week, having beaten Chippa United 1 – 0 midweek to get a place in the MTN8 final against Bidvest Wits.

The Atteridgeville pitch once more proved to be the slaughterhouse of the Champions, and playing to the mantra “Against all Odds” and “Aluta Continua”, Pitso Mosimane’s boys not only delivered, but did so in style.

And Sundowns boss Patrice Motsepe was all smiles as his charges showed resilience. At the end of the game, he went onto the pitch to thank the fans who had turned out in their thousands to support the Brazillians.

They had been stunned by a two-goal blitzkrieg in Ndola when beaten 2 – 1, and their immediate challenge was to ensure that the Zambian side does not score.  But Mosimane opted to use attack as a defence, and from as early as the second minute, Tebogo Langerman made a run on the left, charging towards the box.  He lofted his cross high, but it was a wake-up call for Zesco.

As the Zambian side tried to counter the Mamelodi Sundowns attacks, it was the turn of Keagan Dolly to make a shot at goal.  Then Dolly knitted a ball through , which found Anthony Laffor at the end – and the Liberian’s chance went abegging.

Zesco were disjointed, and outplayed in the middle of the park, and their much vaunted attack was kept pinned to the middle of the park. A shot by Mwanza, more speculative, went wide, and Denis “Vala” Onyango dived low to save his second.

Sundowns kept the pressure on, and pressed Zesco.  Tiyane “Sugar” Mabunda took his turn to shoot for goal but the ball flew just over the cross bar.

Then a Laffor effort was turned for a corner which was cleared, but even then, it was clear that Sundowns were determined to boss Zesco.

Not surprisingly, Khama Billiat was fouled just outside the box, but he got up to take the set-piece but he hit it over the bar.

A combination play initiated by Dolly was headed back to Laffor, who calmly struck the ball on the laces to beat the Zesco goalkeeper hands down to give Sundowns the opening goal which rattled Zesco even more.

The game began to swing from end to end, and Onyango was called on to make another save.  Then, on 18 minutes, Laffor lost his balance as he shot for goal, but his shot did go tantalisingly close to the upright.

Zesco’s Jackson Mwana hit the woodwork in one of their best efforts.

Billiat intercepted a back pass, turned two defenders before shooting, but his effort flew over the bar.

The Zesco players were losing the ball in the final third, with Wayne Arendse, Hlompho Kekana, Thabo Nthete and Mabunda lockiinfg the door to win the ball back and initiate counters.

Percy Tau dribbled his way past a cluster of defenders, getting past the goalkeeper who recovered just in time to parry the ball out for a corner as the youngster shot for goal.

Zesco hitman Jesse Were was isolated, and his attempts to break through came to naught.

On 43 minurtes, Mabunda’s long range effort found the cross bar, and the ball bounced back into play.

The teams went into the break with Sundowns holding the upper hand, and in the second half, they came out looking for the insurance goal which would ensure that even if Zesco scored, they were still in with a chance.

The Zambian side was desperate in their attack, and Langerman came down the flank, calmly looked up and lobbed the ball into the box where Tau had literally raised his hand – and the youngster dived for a header which gave Sundowns the cushion they needed. (2 – 0).

The goal gave the Brazilians the confidence they needed and they were more comfortable on the ball. An injured Mabunda was pulled off and Soumahoro Bangaly was brought in to shut Zesco out. Tau was also pulled off after another sterling performance and the experienced Teko Modise brought on.

At the end, Sundowns were just too good for Zesco, and deservedly earned their place in the final which will most likely be against Zamalek, scheduled for the weekend of October 14 and October 21.

But for the Tshwane giants, it is still “Against all Odds”, “Aluta Continua!”

HOW THEY LINED UP:

Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, Mbekile, Arendse, Nthethe, Langerman, Kekana (c), Mabunda (Soumahoro 88′), Tau (Modise 79′), Laffor, Dolly, Billiat

Zesco United: Banda, Oluwafemi, Bahn, Odhiambo, Silwimba, Ching’andu (Kambole 62′), Chaila, Chama, Mtonga (Mbombo 73′), Mwanza (Mwape 59′), Were.