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Mamelodi Sundowns picked up a point in the CAF Champions League when they played to a goalless draw against Algerian side MC Alger, on Friday night at the Stade Ali Ammar Douéra.
The hosts were the side that had a brighter start to the game between the two. They showed intent on the attack, creating chances, but the Downs defence was tight, making sure they don’t leave room for mistakes, MC Alger could possibly exploit. The biggest threat came through an attempt to drive the ball into the box, but trying to clear the ball, Teboho Mokoena committed a foul. This earned the hosts a free-kick, which Ronwen Williams managed to catch.
Eventually, Masandawana picked up their pace and tried to find the gaps. After 25 minutes of searching for a goal, the Brazilians came close to breaking the deadlock. Marcelo Allende’s delivery into the area was met by Tashreeq Matthews, but his effort to tap it in just went wide.
The hosts managed to snatch back the possession and continued to pose a serious threat to their visitors. On the edge of the box as they tried to drive the ball into the area after going past two Downs defenders, MC Alger were stopped by Keanu Cupido, but he was handed a yellow card for committing a foul. The hosts were awarded a free-kick but were denied.
The hosts almost broke the deadlock before the interval with their best chance of the half, but the quality of the Downs defence shone as they denied them a goal. Alger came close again when they lobbed the ball over a Williams who was off his mark, but the ball slightly missed the target when it went over the bar. Despite a lively opening half, the two sides went to the interval deadlocked with no goals.
Bafana Ba Style looked more lively in the second stanza and approached the half with a sense of urgency. They kept searching for a goal as they owned the ball but just couldn’t get it right.
After no chances displayed by both sides, the Algerian side pulled a threat in the final third, but Lungadenied them with his powerful clearance to earn the hosts a corner kick. The two set pieces taken were not fruitful.
In the closing stages of the match, Williams quickly read the danger early and went off his mark to clear the ball with a powerful kick. Madandawana held on to the draw, which saw them walking away with a point and maintaining their first position on the Group C tally.
How we lined up: Williams ©, Mudau, Cupido, Kekana, Lunga, Mokoena, Allende, Reisinho, Santos, Rayners, Matthews.
Subs: Onyango, Modiba, Johannes, Morena, Adams, Mkhulise, Zwane, Maseko, Sales.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.