Mamelodi Sundowns is on track to defend its CAF Champions League title win after beating Vita Club 3-1 to share Group’s C top position. Held at the Stade de Martyrs de la Pentecote, Liberian forward Anthony Laffor, sneaked in to race the South Africans ahead, capitalizing on an assist from teammate and defender, Langerman in the 25th minute.
The goal stunned the hosts and Vita was forced to wake up from its slumber, responding through Malian midfielder Oumar Sidibe who rose to the occasion with a brilliant equalizer seven minutes later as both teams went into the break even.
But new signing Krahire Yannick Zakri, spurred the South Africans ahead again tapping the ball past Vita’s net-minder Lukong, to double the lead.
The Dolphins were in trouble by this time as Sundowners launched an all-out onslaught, forcing Vita on its back-foot to smack home a breath taking last effort through 27-year-old Soweto-born attacker Sibusiso Vilakazi.
The win put The Brazilians (Sundowns) at the top of Group C’s table, sharing points with Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive De Tunis on four each.
Elsewhere in Harare, Zimbabwe’s Caps United made home advantage count by beating Algeria’s USM Alger 2-1. Striker Ronald Chitiyo’s brace gave the Zimbabweans the lead reducing Ayoub Abdellaoui’s initial equalizing goal for the Algerians to a mere consolation.
Alger and United are tied on points with each managing three but the latter is ahead on goal difference.
Zanaco sashayed over Morocco’s league leaders Wydad Casablanca in Lusaka in a late CL Final game kick-off on Wednesday 26, May. Ernest Embewe garnered all points for the Zambian juggernauts with his 13th-minute effort at the National Heroes Stadium.
Zanaco and Al Ahly’s Egypt are tallied on four points each in Group D.
Earlier on Wednesday 26, May, Tunisian giants, Etoile Sportive Du Sahel dispatched off Sudan’s Premier League side Al Merreikh on a final 2-1 score.
Brazilian forward Diogo Acosta, fired the opening goal after thirty-four (34) minutes to put the visitors on a comfortable footing. Hosts and Obudman outfit Al Merreikh soon equalized through a Bakari Al Madina 52nd minute strike to inject some lifeline into the home supporters.
However, a dramatic late surge in the final minutes forced the hosts into some costly howlers and super-sub Algerian Hameur Bouazza, was at hand to deliver when most needed, plundering in the winning goal in additional time.
The result renders Sahel unbeaten in two games and top of Group A on six points.
Second-placed Al Hilal Ombudman – another Sudanese side – is on a single point following a 0-0 stalemate with bottom-placed Benin’s Ferroviaro.
In Group B, it’s Zamalek atop on four points after the Egyptian club won its first game and drew the second on Tuesday. The stalemate comes on the heels of a goalless tie with Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli.
Former African champions Esperance Du Sportive Tunis (ESS), got held 0-0 by Ethiopia’s league leaders Kedus Giorgis at the Addis Ababa Stadium.
And in Yaounde, Coton Sport endured a 2-0 humbling to Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly in Group D’s game two. Nigeria’s Oluwafemi Juior Ajayi planted the first goal before Momen Zakaria doubled the advantage two minutes after the 12th-minute opener to send Ahly top on four points.
Featured photo: Gallo Images
