By Michael Madyira
Thapelo Morena was back to haunt Al Ahly again with his late goal salvaging a 2-2 draw for Mamelodi Sundowns.
The pair clashed in the CAF Champions Group B at Al Salam Stadium on Saturday night.
After Peter Shalulile thrust Sundowns ahead on 34 minutes, the hosts hit back via Mohamed Abdelmonem’s 59th-minute goal and Hussein El Shahat with 16 minutes to go.
But Morena brought the Tshwane giants back into the game with his 80th-minute goal to replicate his heroism after he was the star of the show in last season’s 1-0 Cairo win over Ahly by the Brazilians.
Masandawana still lead Group B but with a point while Al Ahly remains third.
It was the Egyptian giants who looked threatening from the first whistle as Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams denied Mohamed Hany.
Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile were back for Sundowns to give support to Cassius Mailula
Bafana Bafana attacker Percy Tau was facing his compatriots for the third time and they had a plan to keep him at bay.
As early as the second minute into the match, Hany breached the Sundowns defence but found Williams unyielding.
The Bafana skipper was back again to deny El Shahat four minutes later.
On 14 minutes, Shalulile blasted his shot over the bar after some nice exchanges and the Namibian was back to try on an alert Mohamed El Shenawy four minutes later.
Zwane could not do justice to a nice pass inside the box before Mailula rode past two Al Ahly defenders from the left flank to cross for Shalulile who made no mistake past El Shenawy.
Now enjoying the advantage of being a goal ahead, an unmarked Shalulile could have grabbed a brace but headed over the bar from six yards.
The hosts pressed for a comeback and Khuliso Mudau was forced to save with his head a goal-bound El Shahat effort before Williams was a hero to save from the dangerous resultant corner kick.
Early into the second half, the hosts got another goal chance when Mothobi Mvala was adjudged to have brought down Tau and Mohamed Hany’s penalty was parried out of goal by Williams.
Mailula and Mkhulise were to be denied by El Shenawy and just after that, Al Ahly were back on level terms through defender Abdelmonem.
El Shahat then struck before Mailula hit the post and then Morena was to finish the rebound for a goal to draw the match.
Pictured above: Marcelo Allende vs Mohamed Afsha
Image source: Mamelodi Sundowns
