Al Ahly beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 to take a first leg advantage in their CAF Champions League match-up on Saturday evening.
Pitso Mosimane named the same side that drew when Zamalek on Monday while the Brazilians had shot-stopper Denis Onyango back in goal. Elsewhere, Gaston Sirino, Thapelo Morena and Sphelele Mkhulise all returned to the starting lineup as Themba Zwane missed out through injury.
It was a game that began with high intensity and much energy as the sides were pressing each other high in the opening 20 minutes of the encounter.
The first goal scoring opportunity came in the 21st minute from a set piece situation as Gift Motupa’s deft header came off the post before missing the target by millimeters with yet another header from a corner some moments later.
After a period of chances for the visitors, Taher Mohamed opened the scoring for the Red Devils in stunning fashion from a lightening counter-attack, after cutting inside from the right side of the box to send a sizzling strike past the hapless Onyango.
Onyango was lucky not to concede a penalty minutes before the break after a challenge on Mohamed Sherif, although he was awarded the free-kick by the referee.
Masandawana were trying to get back into the game early in the second half and they came close from yet another set piece. Mosa Lebusa’s header at the near post was saved by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy to keep the score line at 1-0.
Mosimane subbed on Salah Mohsen in place of Hussein El Shahat in an attacking change while a minute later, Sundowns introduced Kermit Erasmus for the ineffective Sirino.
Substitute Erasmus almost created the equalizer for his side to level as his lovely pass found Motupa but the latter’s effort from the edge of the box was saved by El Shenawy.
Meanwhile, substitute Salah headed home a second for Pitso’s men when Onyango made a horrible error by misjudging the flight of a long ball to see out the win, as the Red Devils take a 2-0 advantage into the second-leg next week in South Africa.
Sundowns now face a mountain to climb for the return leg and have to score two unreplied goals on home turf, or at least three goals to turn back the tie in their favour.
On paper, that pretty much looks like a herculean task but it is not impossible to say the least.