Mamelodi Sundowns staged a remarkable recovery to come from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw in a thrilling MTN CAF Champions League third round, first leg clash with Al Ahly at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa.

Follow up:

The hosts scored twice in the last 12 minutes after having been easily out thought and outplayed by the defending African champions in the first 60 minutes, as Ahly surged into a two-goal lead through goals by Mohamed Barakat and Flavio.


Al Ahly silenced the home crowd by taking the lead in the 27th minute through Barakat

The midfielder sprung the offside trap and latched onto a clever ball over the top before firing past the advancing Calvin Marlin.
It was exactly what Sundowns had hoped to avoid but their defending, usually so assured, was under sever pressure from the rapier-like raids launched by the Egyptians, who used the pace of forwards Emad Moteab and Flavio to stretch the match and make it difficult for the host’s defenders to link with their midfield.


Flavio made it 2-0 in the 55th minute with a beautiful 25 metre shot that nestled in the top corner and gave Marlin absolutely no hope of getting a hand on the shot.


At that stage Ahly appeared to be cruising but Sundowns never gave up and finally, against a tiring defence, the hosts pulled one back in the 79th minute through defender Oscar Ntwagae, who flicked home a header from a clever ball by Surprise Moriri.


Sundowns drew level in the 89th minute, with Josta Dladla providing a superb cross for Jose Torrealba to head home and make it 2-2.


Al Ahly will still be favorites for the second leg, having scored two away goals, but the momentum in the tie is with Sundowns, who appeared dead and buried but now have real hope of upsetting the defending MTN CAF Champions League winners in Cairo in two weeks time.




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