Shalulile inspires Sundowns comeback

Mamelodi Sundowns put one foot in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals as they battled back from behind to beat AS Maniema Union 2-1 at the Stade des Martyrs on Saturday, January 11.

The Brazilians enjoyed the lion's share of the possession in Kinshasa, but Papy Kimoto's side created the better chances in the first half and took the lead through Jefu Kitambala seven minutes before the break.

Bafana ba Style showed more attacking intent in the second half and they finally hit back on 83 minutes with an equaliser from Peter Shalulile, who then forced Ecaucia Moanda to put the ball past his own goalkeeper at the death.

Masandawana went level with Group B leaders AS FAR on eight points, four clear of Raja Casablanca and ending the Green and Blacks' hopes of progressing to the knockout phase.

Sundowns made a bright start and they put the opposition goal under early pressure, with Arthur Sales firing wide of the right post from inside the D on six minutes after latching onto Lucas Ribeiro's through-ball.

But the hosts grew into the game and threatening to open the scoring twice in the space of three minutes as Taboria Simete glanced a header wide of the left post from a free-kick on the right in the 17th minute before Kitambala planted a free header over the crossbar from Onaya Sangana's cross.

Joseph Bakasu then managed to hit the target on 24 minutes after doing well to control a corner-kick inside the box and hitting a volley on the turn from 20 yards out that Ronwen Williams was required to save.

Ribeiro should perhaps have done better four minutes later when he sent a first-time shot on the half-volley wide of the left post following good build-up play between Marcelo Allende and Sales inside the area on the left.

Allende went closer moments later with a shot from an angle on the right that struck the side-netting and Teboho Mokoena curled an long-range effort inches over the bar on 36 minutes following a short-corner routine.

However, the Green and Blacks broke the deadlock two minutes later as Kitambala raced away from the left flank and held off the challenge of Mokoena to stab the ball past Williams at his near post from inside the box.

Sundowns looked for a quick response in the second half, with Mokoena drilling a trademark long-range shot narrowly over the target on 47 minutes before Thapelo Morena forced Bridel Efonge into a sharp save on the hour mark after controlling Sphelele Mkhulise's ball over the top.

Their efforts were finally rewarded seven minutes from time when Shalulile headed home Mokoena's cross following a quickly-taken corner after Ribeiro's long-range range had been deflected wide of the goal.

Rachidi Musinga almost won it for the hosts in the final minute as he beat two defenders inside the box before testing Williams from eight yards out.

They switched off at the back deep into stoppage time though, allowing Shalulile to bring a cross under control and Moanda poked the ball into his own net in an attempt to deny the Namibian a shot.

AS Maniema Union (1) 1 (Kitambala 38')

Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 2 (Shalulile 83', Moanda 90+5' OG)

AS MANIEMA UNION: B. Efonge, A. Bokomboli, O. Ndombele, E. Moanda, J. Bakasu (R. Musinga 89'), T. Simete, A. Basiala (J. Mpindi 79'), O. Sangana, R. Kitwa (C. Balako 79'), O. Mbala (J. Kanu 63'), J. Kitambala (L. Joel 79').

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS: R. Williams, T. Morena, G. Kekana, M. Lebusa (M. Khoza 79'), M. Allende, S. Mkhulise (K. Letlhaku 63'), T. Mokoena (P. Shalulile 79'), D. Lunga (T. Mashego 63'), L. Ribeiro, I. Rayners, A. Sales (T. Matthews 46').