Thapelo Morena scored just four minutes after coming on as Mamelodi Sundowns stunned holders Al Ahly with a 1-0 defeat at the Cairo International Stadium in their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group A match on Saturday.
Morena had just come on for Themba Zwane in the 81st minute and just four minutes into the pitch, he struck an unstoppable shot that handed Sundowns victory over their former coach Pitso Mosimane.
It was the first time in six attempts that the South African side were not just winning, but scoring a goal against the Egyptian giants.
The victory was vital as it took Masandawana top of the group with seven points while Ahly are second after just a point from two matches.
Morena scored with five minutes left on the clock with a thumping shot that left Mohamed Elshenawy rooted to his spot after Shalulile had picked up a poorly cleared ball and put it on a silver platter for the substitute.
While Morena scored the winner, veteran goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene who was standing in for the injured Dennis Onyango pulled off a brilliant save in the fourth minute of added time to pluck off a header from Yasser Ibrahim off a corner.
And just before they conceded, Ahly lost a glorious opportunity when Rushine De Reuck blocked a shot from Amr El Solia off the line after keeper Mweene spilled a cross at the Egyptian attacker’s feet.
It had been an end to end tie and duly ended with as much drama. Each side had chances to score. The Red Devils had a chance after 18 minutes but Hamdi Fathi’s header off an Ali Maaloul cross was blocked by Brian Mandela.
Aliou Dieng had two chances with long range shots, but both went over. Maaloul also had a well struck freekick saved by Mweene.
In the second half, the same tempo was maintained and Sundowns came very close in the 52nd minute but Lyle Lakay’s curling effort came off the crossbar.
Lakay had another chance five minutes later with a venomous drive from the left, but the effort was pushed away at full flight by Elshenawy.
Ahly had been piling the pressure in the final quarter of the match to try get a goal, but their efforts were needled off by Morena’s late goal.
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