Peter Charlyle of Mamelodi Sundowns ©Phakamasa Lensman/BackpagePix
Saturday, January 11, 2025 17:23
Peter Sharilulu came off the bench to inspire Mamelodi Sundowns’ comeback 2-1 win over AS Maniema Union at the Stade de Martir on Saturday, January 11.
The Brazilians enjoyed most of the possession in Kinshasa, but Pappy Kimoto’s side created good chances in the first half, with Jeff Kitambara taking the lead seven minutes before half-time.
Bafana Ba Style looked more aggressive in the second half and finally struck back with Sharulil’s equalizer in the 83rd minute, before Equusia Moanda pushed the ball past their own goalkeeper in the dying minutes.
Masandawana are currently level at the top of Group B with eight points, four behind Raja Casablanca, ending the Green and Black’s hopes of making it to the finals.
Sundowns got off to a bright start, putting pressure on the opposition goal from the start and in the sixth minute, Arthur Sales received a through ball from Lucas Ribeiro and fired a shot from inside the D that went wide of the right post.
However, the hosts got into the game and in the 17th minute, Tavoria Simete’s header from a free kick on the right wing just missed the left post, and Kitambara scored a free header, giving them the lead twice in three minutes. threatened. Crossbar from Onaya Sangana’s cross.
Joseph Bacas controlled a corner kick well inside the box in the 24th minute and volleyed in on the turn from 20 yards out, but Ronwen Williams had to make a save and managed to get a shot on target.
Four minutes later, after good build-up play from Marcelo Allende and Salele inside the area, Ribeiro probably could have done better when he fired a half-volley that sent his first shot wide of the left post. .
Moments later, Allende came close to scoring with an angled shot from the right that hit the side netting, and in the 36th minute, Teboho Mokoena fired a long shot from a short corner just inches above the goal.
Two minutes later, however, Kitambara broke the deadlock for the Greens and Blacks when he darted down the left flank, thwarted a challenge from Mokoena and slotted the ball into Williams’ near post from inside the box.
Sundowns looked to react quickly in the second half, with Mokoena curling a trademark long-range shot just wide of the target in the 47th minute, but an hour earlier, Thapelo Morena, who controlled Sphelele Mkhulise’s ball over the top, sent Breidel over. – Forced Efonji into a sharp save.
Their efforts finally paid off seven minutes from time, when Ribeiro’s long-range shot went wide of the goal and Challuril headed home Mokoena’s cross following a corner kick. .
The hosts almost sealed victory in the final moments when Rashidi Musinga beat two defenders in the box and tested Williams from eight yards out.
However, deep into second-half stoppage time, the opposition switched on, with Charulile getting his cross under control and Moanda trying to stop Namibia’s shot by smashing the ball into his own net.
AS Maniema Union (1) 1 (Kitambara 38′)
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 2 (Shalilu 83ft, Moanda 90+5ft OG)
AS Maniema Union: B. Efongue, A. Bokomboli, O. Ndombele, E. Moanda, J. Bakas (R. Musinga 89 minutes), T. Simete, A. Basiala (J. Mpindi 79 minutes), O. Sangana. , R. Kitwa (C. Barako 79 minutes), O. Mbala (J. Kanu 63 minutes), J. Kitambara (L. Joel 79′).
Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, T. Molina, G. Kekana, M. Lebusa (M. Khoza 79 minutes), M. Allende, S. Mkhurize (K. Letrak 63 minutes), T. Mokoena (P. Shalilu 79) ), D. Lunga (T. Mashego 63′), L. Ribeiro, I. Rayners, A. Sales (T. Matthews 46′).
