Downs shoot to the top of CAF standings
Mamelodi Sundowns grind out a difficult 2-1 victory over Cameroon side Astres de Douala in a Confederation Cup match at the Loftus Stadium on Saturday night and shot to the top of the Group A log table with six points.
The situation however, might change on Sunday evening with the result of the other Group A match between TP Mazembe and Sportif Club de Sfaxien from Tunisia at the Lubumbashi Stadium as either side could go top if they win but a draw will suite the “Brazilians” just fine.
It had not been an easy last couple of weeks for Sundowns who lined-up against the visitors without at least nine of the players who were regulars last season due to injuries and a contractual dispute with at least one player – Jose Torrealba - whose case is now handled by Fifa.
Calvin Marlin, David Kannemeyer, Esrom Nyandoro, Mike Manzini, Godfrey Sapula, Lerato Chabangu, Patrick Apataki and Peter Ndlovu have all been sidelined by an assortment of injuries while Torrealba’s dispute with the club has been handed to the FIFA Player’s Dispute Committee to be resolved.
And Sundowns found themselves holding a tiger by the tail against the bottom side in their group on Saturday night, but thanks largely to their tenacity and fighting spirit that saw them claw their way back to eventually win the game after conceding a soft goal in the first half.
Astres capitalized on some sloppy defending after Brian Baloyi had failed to hold onto a scorching shot and Hans Ossah quickly guided the loose ball into the net to give the visitors a shock 1-0 lead in the 31st minute as the home side’s supporters were stunned into silence.
But Sundowns regrouped and were level two minutes later when Dillon Sheppard’s corner kick was nodded to the near post by Oscar Ntwagae and a charging Surprise Moriri connected powerfully with his head to bring parity and gave the home fans their voice back.
And in the 61st minute, substitute Josta Dladla raced down the wing and cleverly pulled the ball back onto the path of overlapping Benson Mhlongo who’s first time shot beat the goalkeeper at the near post for the winner.
It was a perfect way to repay his fans after his blunder “gifted” AmaZulu a goal during a mid-week Castle League match when he was dispossessed by a sprightly Dumisani Ngwenya who raced the length of the field to beat Baloyi with a low shot for the Durban side’s opening goal.
Gordon Igesund, hoozing and coughing up a storm with his eyes red with the flu, said this was not the best of times for his team but he was glad that they fought very hard for this victory despite the odds that were heavily stacked against them.
“This victory was very important for us,” said Igesund. “It’s a difficult period for us and we are missing at least 10 players. But for a coach to miss that number of key players and still win is a positive sign.
“The fighting, commitment and attitude of the players is exemplary. We are missing far too many players but hopefully Patrick Apataki, Mike Manzini, Esrom Nyandoro and Peter Ndlovu will be available when we play Moroka Swallows next week.”
It is not even an ideal situation for Sundowns who have released at least five players to the senior team that travel to Scotland for a friendly in Aberdeen on Wednesday and are expected back on Friday. But there will be no time to rest as they play against Swallows the very next day.
Back to Loftus on Saturday night, Moriri came close twice in the early stages of the game as Gift Leremi caused havoc with his pace and trickery, which forced the Douala team to resort to unsportsmanlike tactics in an attempt to intimidate the home side.
“It was a typical cup game,” recalls Igesund. “It was tough and tight, which neither side prepared to give an inch but we made a silly mistake from which they scored. But we responded almost immediately and from then onwards things got better.”
Things got better indeed after Ossah had opened the score and Sundowns, after hitting back immediately, they started pushing the ball around and spread it wide as they engaged in their famed passing game, with Leremi the architect of most of their moves with his free role.
And with Mabizela back in the heart of defence, there was a semblance of stability in defence with the former Tottenham Hotspur man scrambling a dangerous ball off the line after Baloyi had failed to hold onto a scorcher late in the game.
Then Josta Dladla delivered the coup de grace, weaving his way down the wing and then pulling back his cross onto the path of Mhlongo who’s first time shot gave the goalkeeper little chance for what turned out to be the winner.
But there was more drama in the 76th minute when Heumi, the Astres utility player blatantly fouled Gift Leremi and for all his troubles was sent off as he was already sitting on a caution and the visitors were reduced to 10-men.
Sundowns play their next game against TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi during September, then host Sfaxien at home before completing their group games with an away fixture against Astres in Douala.
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