Mamelodi Sundowns endured a tough game with creative players like Thembinkosi Lorhi struggling, but their experience helped them win against Young Africans. (Photogalo image)
- Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Young Africans 3-2 on penalties at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday night to advance to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.
- Both teams were unable to find their way even when they were on two legs, and the difference was Sundowns' mental strength when the going got tough.
- The Brazilian played with more tenacity than Yanga during the penalty period, allowing him to advance to the last four and face either Esperance or Acec Mimosa.
- For more soccer news, visit News24's dedicated soccer page.
Mamelodi Sundowns overcame disaster to reach the CAF Champions League semi-finals by defeating the Young Africans in a game where the Brazilians were not at their best.
Thanks to Ronwen Williams' talent and a bit of luck, Sundowns won a penalty kick at Loftus Versfeld Stadium after neither team could find the back of the net in the two games that started and ended in Dar es Salaam on Saturday. They defeated Yanga 3-2 in the match. Friday night in Pretoria.
However, Aziz Ki can claim to have found the back of the net with an audacious shot just before time expired.
Television replays showed that the ball had crossed the line, but referee Dahana Beyda, under the guidance of video assistant referees, ruled that the ball had not crossed the net, much to the frustration of the Tanzanians.
Beida didn't bother checking the ball himself, instead the message was delivered through his earphones.
The goal shook Sundowns' spirit to the core, and the Brazilians were far from their best against an organized and resolute Young Africans side. In the end, however, Sundowns' experience was put to good use as the Tshwane side held their nerve in the shoot-out. Sundowns were mentally strong but Ki crumbled.
The Burkina Faso international missed his second penalty and his whole world came crashing down. He collapsed to the floor and spent the rest of the shootout crying on the floor — even though both teams committed two penalties and his teammates recovered with a 1-1 score.
It's a performance Sundowns don't want to see again, but the mental strength they showed in this game could play a key role as they aim to win their first Champions League since 2016.
This victory allowed the club to overcome the curse of the quarterfinals. Prior to this game, Sundowns had lost in the last eight in four of their previous six attempts.
Sundowns supporters faced a call from coach Rulani Mokwena to play together in numbers and create an enthusiastic atmosphere. However, Mokwena's instructions were not followed after the Brazilian coach implored supporters not to suffer when their team is also suffering, but rather cheer them up.
Mokwena said on Thursday: “Staying at home is not just about being comfortable at home, it's actually about the supporters making the stadium a cathedral… They worship the team, they love the team. We have to support and energize the team.”
But on Friday there were some atheists wearing Sundowns' canary yellow. On a cold Pretoria night after heavy rain during the day, supporters braved the weather to turn out in numbers, but they could not hide their frustration as the club struggled.
After Ki stunned the supporters into silence, the supporters failed to respond to repeated calls to rally behind the team.
The longer the match went goalless, the more dissatisfied the home supporters became, and at one point some of them turned against their own players.
Sundowns were not themselves and struggled to bounce back against a team without the name recognition of the African giants. But what they do have is enormous tenacity. Yanga did not give Sundowns the respect that most teams give them.
They abused and harassed the Brazilians and cleverly used their speed to embarrass the hosts during the break.
Just like in the first leg, Yanga remained calm and absorbed the pressure well. However, his failure to score proved to be the Tanzanian's undoing.
Williams went into the penalty shootout confident, with his name and reputation now greater after his heroics at the African Cup of Nations.
Bafana Bafana's keeper saved two penalties and didn't have to do anything with Yanga's last penalty, which hit the roof. It was a cloudy day for Sundowns supporters who had been through hell for much of the match.
Sundowns will face Tunisia's Esperance or Ivory Coast's Assek Mimosa in the semi-finals.
