Soccer
Late equaliser denies Sundowns victory in CAF Champions League Final first leg─── MORGAN PIEK 08:16 Sun, 25 May 2025
Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
Sundowns were denied an early lead in the 10th minute when Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy palmed away a near-post effort from Iqraam Rayners for a corner.
Congolese striker Fiston Mayele, who has been linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs, responded with the visitors’ first real chance six minutes later, narrowly missing the bottom corner. He had another golden opportunity a few minutes after that, but his shot flew over the crossbar.
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Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids played to a 1??1? draw in the 1st leg of the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL final on Saturday!#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/W24XKBfu42— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) May 25, 2025
The home side made an early change ten minutes before half-time, with Tashreeq Matthews making way for Bafana Bafana international Jayden Adams.
Although both sides continued to exchange blows in the first half, a breakthrough proved elusive, and the score remained goalless at the break.
Sundowns eventually took the lead when Brazilian striker Lucas Ribeiro Costa latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled a superb strike into the top corner – his third goal of the tournament.
The Egyptian side upped the pressure in search of an equaliser, but Sundowns’ defence held firm for most of the second half. Pyramids kept probing, but the Brazilians stood their ground.
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Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has partially blamed the condition of the pitch following a 1??1? draw against Pyramids in the 1st leg of the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL final.#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/M9XxWMdjga— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) May 25, 2025
However, four minutes into stoppage time, the Sundowns defence was finally breached when Walid El Karti found the back of the net to secure a vital away goal for the visitors.
The second leg of the semi-final will be played on 1 June at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo. Securing a second star on their jersey will be a tough ask for the Brazilians, but they’ve been in this position before, most notably when they overcame Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the semi-finals.
