By Michael Madyira
Mamelodi Sundowns will have some extra work to do in Tshwane next week after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat by Esperance in the CAF Champions League semi-final first-leg in Rades on Saturday.
Yan Sasse’s strike four minutes before half-time at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi sank the Brazilians who now have to overturn a deficit when they host the Tunisians at Loftus Versfeld.
After weeks of struggling both on domestic and continental fronts, the biggest fear came to pass for Masandawana who lost their first match since early December when they were beaten away at TP Mazembe in the same competition.
Sundowns went into battle missing Teboho Mokoena who limped out last in Monday’s Premier Soccer League match against Moroka Swallows. Bathusi Aubaas stepped in for him.
There was some encouraging development in the Masandawana camp following the return of Grant Kekana who had recovered from some illness.
Surprisingly, Peter Shalulile was started from the bench by Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena in a match where opposite number Miguel Cardoso brought back Algerian forward Houssam Ghacha.
Few chances came from both sides in the first half as they closed each other down, especially with things looking tight at the back.
Masandawana thought they had taken the lead on 39 minutes when Themba Zwane finished a Khuliso Mudau cross but the referee ruled that the Sundowns right-back had received the ball in an offside position.
The home side broke the deadlock when Brazilian forward Yan Sasse beat Ronwen Williams from close range after being at the end of a Rodrigo Rodrigues assist.
Sundowns came back from the break determined to level things up; and four minutes after the restart, Thembinkosi Lorch blazed his effort over the bar while only faced with Esperance goalkeeper Amanallah Memmich.
Lorch was back again on 55 minutes and this time around his low shot sailed just off target. Immediately after, Ribeiro had his effort saved by Memmich.
Even after being handed seven minutes of stoppage time, Masandawana could not find an equaliser.
Earlier on in the day, TP Mazembe held Al Ahly 0-0 in the other semi-final match in Lubumbashi.
Pictured above: Esperance forward Yan Sasse celebrates scoring against Mamelodi Sundowns
Image source: CAF
