By Michael Madyira
Cassius Mailila’s first-half strike earned Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-0 victory over Al Hilal Omdurman to kick off their CAF Champions League campaign on a high on Saturday.
The 21-year-old separated the two sides in the 25th minute on a slippery Loftus Versfeld pitch.
Al Hilal ended the match with 10-men following the dismissal of defender Altayeb Abaker with four minutes remaining.
It was Mailula’s 10th goal across all competitions this season and his third in the Champions League.
Having been enjoying a terrific run in domestic competitions, Sundowns kept their momentum to claim three points in this continental fixture.
Saturday’s meeting was the seventh between the Brazilians and Al Hilal who are yet to score against Masandawana in all their visits to Tshwane.
Coach Rhulani Mokwena made nine changes to the line-up that started in the midweek Nedbank Cup win over Richards Bay.
Marcelo Allende was back after missing the last two domestic games due to suspension and he tasted CAF Champions League football for the first time.
The first shot on target of the game came from Ghanaian midfielder David Sandan Abagna who tested Masandawana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Neo Maema was to try from the edge of the box 17 minutes into the contest but the visitors’ keeper Ali Abu Eshrein was alert to avert danger.
But Eshrein then found it hard to catch Maema’s ferocious shot, leaving Mailula to pounce on the spill from close range to decide the contest.
That was followed by a dangerous response by the Sudanese giants who had Mohamed Abdelrahman arriving a shade too late to meet a beautiful cross from Ibrahim Imoro.
Peter Shalulile could have doubled Sundowns’ lead on the brink of halftime but his turn-and-shoot lacked the power to beat Eshrein.
Just after the restart, Mailula thought he had grabbed a brace after beating the Al Hilal stopper but his goal was ruled out as offside.
Shalulile then failed to control a pass from Khuliso Mudau while inside the box and then Eshrein did well to parry Teboho Mokoena’s powerful freekick.
Al Hilal’s Glody Lilepo almost made a breakthrough but Williams made a crucial save.
It then became difficult for the Sudanese giants to claw their way back into the match after Abaker was sent off.
Pictured above: Cassius Mailula evades the challenge of Al Hilal’s Ousmane Diouf
Image source: Mamelodi Sundowns
