Sundowns secure narrow win over Esperance

Mamelodi Sundowns have taken a positive step toward the semifinals of the CAF Champions League after they claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Esperance de Tunis at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

The quarterfinal, first-leg clash was decided by a goal early in the second half from Peter Shalulile, putting the Brazilians in control of the tie, but with a testing return game away to the Blood and Gold set for a week’s time.

Miguel Cardoso's army will take a one-goal advantage into the second leg 👏🟡

The teams meet again next Tuesday in Tunisia ⏩#TotalEnergiesCAFCL | #SSFootball pic.twitter.com/MdhaNOKfa3

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 1, 2025

The first half was a cagey affair, with neither side able to create any clear scoring chances. Sundowns had a couple of long-range efforts which either didn’t trouble Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Sair, or were easy for him to handle.

At the other end, the visitors had a couple of promising moments when their press caught the hosts dawdling on the ball, but they weren’t able to truly prise open Sundowns’ defence and test out Ronwen Williams.

The Brazilians made a more determined start to the second half and were rewarded with a goal in the 54th minute. Lucas Ribeiro’s reverse diagonal cross into the box was headed into the danger area by Jayden Adams, and Peter Shalulile stabbed home just inside the near post at close range for 1-0.

He who scores in the big moments, Peter Shalulile does it again 🤌

That ball from Jayden Adams though 👀🔥

📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesCAFCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/HfmUE3J4Np

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 1, 2025

The remainder of the game often devolved into scrappy passages of play, interspersed with incidents of aggression between the teams – a scenario which suited Sundowns, as they were able to deny Esperance any attacking rhythm and control the game up to the final whistle.

The return leg-match will be played at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis on the evening of Tuesday 8 April.

Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 1 (Shalulile 54’)

Esperance de Tunis 0

Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Suarez, Modiba (Lunga 46’), Mokoena, Allende, Adams (Aubaas 86’), Morena (Sales 46’), Ribeiro, Shalulile (Maseko 83’)

Esperance: Ben Said, Tougai, Bouchniba, Konate (Tka 72’), Ben Hamida, Jelassi, Yan Sasse (Jebali 72’), Mokwana, Belaili, Guenichi (Rodrigues 81’), Ogbelu