In the end they had to rely on an own goal after some good chances could only result in stops by the Zamalek goalkeeper‚ but Mamelodi Sundowns’ 1-0 victory has seen them into the Caf Champions League semifinals in style.
Downs‚ on nine points from three Group B games‚ have an unassailable nine-point lead with a game to spare.
The Brazilians‚ who only reached the group stage because of second round opponents AS Vita Club’s expulsion for fielding an ineligible player‚ will now fancy themselves to go all the way.
Zamalek centre-back Ali Mossad turned substitute Percy Tau’s attempted a cross into his own net in the 80th minute at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville last night.
Downs‚ who until then had been denied by repeated stops by the Egyptian giants’ goalkeeper‚ Ahmed Elshenawy‚ were deserved victors having broken down their well-organised opponents on half a dozen occasions‚ with barely a reply at the other end.
Group B was reduced to three teams after ES Setif were expelled for crowd misbehaviour after their 2-0 defeat to Sundowns in Algeria in June.
Downs have gone on to beat Nigerians Enyimba 2-1 at home‚ Zamalek by the same scoreline in Cairo‚ and now the White Knights again.
Sundowns largely played a patient waiting game against their highly tactical opponents in the first half.
After Leonardo Castro missed the target early on for the Brazilians in a one-on-one‚ Sundowns settled back‚ moved the ball calmly‚ and were prepared to wait for the openings.
Their tentative probing resulted in Khama Billiat receiving the ball on the edge of the area in the 43rd minute‚ turning and beating Maroof Yusuf into the area down the left‚ the Zimbabwean’s low shot stopped by the outstretched leg of Elshenawy.
Some fancy footwork after the break teed up dangerous left-back Tebogo Langerman for an angled shot from outside the area that skidded past Elshenawy’s right upright.
In the 76th right-back Siyanda Zwane’s dipping 28-metre drive was kept out one handed by Elshenawy at full stretch.
Tau‚ on for Themba Zwane‚ found space on the left and played a low ball toward the centre‚ with Mossad’s miscued intercept finally beating Elshenawy.
Sundowns’ final group match is against Enyimba in Nigeria on August 23 or 24.
In their match last night, Zesco United took a major step toward qualifying for the semifinals when they held Asec Mimosas to a 1-1 draw in their Group A clash at Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan.
The Zambians join group leaders Wydad Casablanca (who host bottom-of-the-log Al Ahly later last night) on seven points, three ahead of the Ivorians, and know that they will probably need just one more win from their two remaining matches to secure a place in the final four.