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Mamelodi Sundowns have booked themselves a spot in the CAF Champions League final after securing a 2-0 victory on aggregate against Esperance de Tunis. It was Brayan Leon who scored the only goal of the second leg when Masandawana hosted the Tunisian side on Saturday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld. This came after he had done the same when Downs were hosted in Tunisia.
This result sees Bafana Ba Style head to a CAFCL final for the fourth time, having already won it once in 2026.
The visitors didn’t arrive in South Africa to not challenge their hosts and they fought their way through the 90 minutes. While being denied by the Downs defence in front as they tried to salvage a goal out of the game, their defence were equally at work to deny Masandawana a goal.
The breakthrough, however, came on the 35th minute through Leon. The goal came after Leon was fouled by the goalkeeper in the box, leading to the referee pointing to the spot. Taken by Leon himself, the penalty was blocked by the goalkeeper but Leon found a rebound and slotted it in to put the hosts in front.
The visitors almost levelled matters just before the break when they delivered a cross from the left flank. They connected with a ball to take a shot but it rattled the crossbar to deny them, seeing the hosts heading to interval with an advantage.
The visitors didn’t lose momentum in the second stanza and we’re trying their luck in front of goal. An opportunity to level matters came for them when they took a shot outside the box but the effort sailed over the bar to deny them.
The Taraji were desperate for an away goal and we’re hopeful to get an equalizer but the Downs rearguard were defiant at the back.
Marcelo Allende, who came in as a substitute almost doubled his side’s advantage in the final stages of the match with multiple long-range efforts but the goalkeeper denied him to keep the game at 1-0.
The 1-0 score line was enough for coach Miguel Cardoso’s men to secure the first spot of the final.
How we lined up: Williams(c), Mudau, Cupido, Ndamane, Lunga, Morena, Mokoena, Adams, Sales, Matthews, Leon.
Subs: Onyango, Allende, Ntsabeleng, Aubaas, Mdunyelwa, Saleng, Johannes, Rayners.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.