CAFCL: Sundowns advance despite AS FAR draw

Yesterday at 01:22 PM

AS FAR Rabat fought back to hold Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw in a CAF Champions League Group B match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday evening.

As a result, Masandawana advanced to the quarter-finals as Group B runners-up and they will now focus on the Betway Premiership where they are scheduled to battle it out with Magesi FC on 22 January.

Rabat, on the other hand, progressed to the knockout phase as Group B winners and they will turn their attention to the Moroccan Botola Pro League where they are set to face off with CODM Meknes on 23 January.

Masandawana piled pressure on the Militarians from the first whistle and the visitors were conceding a lot of free-kicks in their own half, and they were punished by rejuvenated Peter Shalulile 12 minutes into the match.

Lucas Ribeiro Costa’s lovely set-piece found Shalulile who netted with a header to hand Sundowns the lead, and it was the Namibia captain’s second goal in as many matches. Sundowns were leading 1-0 at the interval.

Ribeiro nearly became the villain after the restart as the Brazilian forward’s attempted clearance beat goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, but the woodwork came to Masandawana’s rescue in the 67th minute.

However, the visitors did grab the equalising goal with seven minutes left. Youssef El Fahli set up inspired substitute Amine Zouhzouh who beat Williams at the near-post to ensure that the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Sundowns (1) 1 (Shalulile 12′)
AS FAR (0) 1 (Zouhzouh 83′)

Sundowns: Williams, Khoza, Kekana, Lunga, Mokoena, Allende, Mkhulise (Maema 77′), Morena, Ribeiro, Rayners (Matthews 77′), Shalulile (Sales 90’+2)
AS FAR: Khayati, De Jesus, Inonga, Derrag (Hadraf 85′), El Fahli, Hooueibib, Bach, Ouarkhane (Beya 76′), Hammoudan (Zouhzouh 63′), Naji, Orebonye (Ajoughlal 85′)