Al Hilal and Mamelodi Sundowns played to an entertaining 0-0 draw in an African Champions League Group B match at El Hilal Stadium, Omdurman on Friday afternoon.
The first real chance on goal fell to Sundowns in the 14th minute when Mothobi Mvala headed over the crossbar from a couple yards out after meeting a left-sided free-kick from Leandro Rodiriguez.
In the 14th minute Al Hilal should have taken the lead when Mohamed Ahmed met an inch perfect corner-kick from Nasr Ahmed but the central defender headed wide from under the Sundowns crossbar.
Three minutes later a goalmouth scramble inside the Al Hilal box saw Mauricio Prieto firing narrowly over the crossbar from 16-yards out.
On the half hour mark Al Hilal came close to opening the scoring when Mohamed Yousif broke through on goal and rounded the keeper, but fired his shot into the side netting from an acute angle on the right.
Two minutes before the break Aubrey Maphosa thought he had given Chiefs the lead when he found the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed because he was in an off-side position.
The half ended 0-0.
Sundowns came out firing at the start of the second half with Promise Mkhuma breaking through on goal four minutes after the restart, but he was superbly denied by goalkeeper Ali Aboeshren.
In the 63nd minute Maphosa was afforded too much space and let rip with a thunderous long range effort, but saw his shot brilliantly stopped by Ali Aboeshren.
Ten minutes later substitute Mohammed Quattara cross from the left was met by Eid Mugadam, but he headed inches over the Brazilians crossbar from ten-yards out.
Mugahid Farooug was in the thick of the action again in the 78th minute when he turned defender Mosa Lebusa on his way to goal, but saw his close range effort magnificently saved by Stuart Goss.
Sundowns nearly stole victory in the dying seconds of the match when substitute George Mamuleka struck the crossbar with an effort in the 83rd minute and then Lyle Lakay also missed a seater in the 91st minute.
Nonetheless, the match ended 0-0 and the spoils were shared.
