CAF CL: Sundowns fall to Mazembe in Lubumbashi

Mamelodi Sundowns suffered their first defeat in the CAF Champions League group stages after going down 1-0 to TP Mazembe on Saturday evening.

Mamelodi Sundowns and TP Mazembe finished the first half goalless in a Group A encounter.

Masandawana coach Rhulani Mokwena recalled captain Themba Zwane and Teboho Mokoena to the line-up, with the in-form duo of Peter Shalulile and Lucas Ribeiro Costa maintaining their places up top.

Ribeiro looked to maintain the run of form he is on inside five minutes through a nicely worked shot amidst the defensive presence around him, but ended up going wide.

Mazembe were brought to life after the slight scare and had a promising combination between Mor Talla Mbaye and Magloire Ntambwe reduce the Brazilians to last-ditch defending.

The host maintained a little bit of the tempo near the midway point and forced goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into a close-range save off a clever angled shot by Abdallah Cheick Fofana.

Sundowns contained the pressure and came within inches of the lead seven minutes to halftime when Zwane worked through a challenge to get a shot in only for the crossbar to deny him.

The Tshwane giants enjoyed a lively start in the second stanza and were unfortunate not to break the deadlock six minutes in after Costa had a shot that came off the crossbar.

Costa’s miss proved costly, as Glody Likonza got the breakthrough for Mazembe on the hour-mark with a header in the box after a cross by Philippe Kinzumbi.

Mokwena made a tactical and attacking change to rescue the game with 15 minutes to go, as Lesiba Nku replaced Thapelo Morena.

The game opened up in the closing stages and Sundowns were unlucky again five minutes before time as Mudau had a shot that came off the upright.

The Brazilians made another tactical change in the dying minutes as Terrence Mashego was sacrificed for Gaston Sirino.

However, the Ravens defended in numbers and held on for their first victory in Group A while Sundowns’ unbeaten run in this season’s competition  comes to an end.

Source:snl24.com