South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns continued to show its football prowess proved as the continent’s heavy weights after a one-sided Super Cup win over TP Mazembe, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
Despite the result being decided by a late penalty, the Sundowns also locally known as the Brazilians, dominated the game from the start by controlling the tempo for most of the game’s 90 minutes.
In the very first minute, Sundowns had a penalty appeal rejected by Egyptian referee Ghead Grisha despite the highlights showing otherwise. A Themba Zwane shot caught Joel Kimwaki on the hand but both the lines man and referee weren’t sure it was the right call to make.
Despite losing four players to European Clubs, the Sundowns were unstoppable and it was TP Mazembe goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo, who pulled some almost impossible saves to stand between Sundowns and an upsetting score for the visiting side.
In the second half, clearly battling with altitude and fitness issues, Mazembe trying to push back brought on fan favorite Tresor Mputu who was just coming from a lengthy FIFA ban but it still looked like only Gbohouo stood between the Sundowns and the trophy.
He stopped three amazing close range efforts from Sundowns winger Anthony Laffor and looked seemed to personally carry the DRC side until full-back Issam Mpeko was penalized for a wild lunge on Sundowns captain, Hlompho Kekana.
Referee Ghead Grisha awarded a penalty kick to give the Sundowns a late advantage. The penalty was heavily disputed but Nascimento was the man to rise up to the occasion calmly tucking a low shot into the left corner, to send the keeper in the opposite direction.
It was a game of chess for the Brazilians who waited patiently to attacked on a counter once again proving the tactical genius of their coach who is currently ranked among the world’s top ten coaches.
This is Sundowns’ first African Super Cup victory, an annual continental showdown between the winners of the continent’s two major club competitions – the African Confederation Cup, and the Champions League.
The result maintained the conventional expectation of Champions League winners coming in as favorites. Champions League winners have won an overall of 22 matches out of the 25 Super Cup finals played.
Egyptian side Al Ahly still lead the tally with a record six wins followed by Zamalek of Egypt and Mazembe of DRC, with three each.
Featured photo: Mamelodi Sundowns, coached by Pitso Mosimane, became the second South African side to win the African Super Cup after Orlando Pirates. (GETTY IMAGES)
