Sundowns reach CL quarter-final for seventh season in a row

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS (1)(1)

Shalulile 13’

AS FAR RABAT (0)(1)

Zauhzouh 83’

Mamelodi Sundowns are synonymous with their ‘seven sign’ as they reached the Caf Champions League quarter-final for the seventh season in succession.

The Brazilians finished second in Group B with nine points, one behind log leaders AS FAR who held them to a draw in Tshwane last night.

While they’ll be disappointed by their finish, they’ll, nonetheless, join fellow South African side Orlando Pirates in the quarter-finals of the premier African football competition.

It’s been a great season for SA teams on the continent so much so that Stellenbosch also reached the quarter-final of the Caf Confederation Cup at first attempt.

By virtue of finishing second in Group B, Sundowns put themselves on the risk of facing Pirates in the knockout stage when the draw is concluded in due course as they won’t be seeded.

The points are shared and off to the quater finals we go! A huge shoutout to the supporters for turning Loftus yellow 💛

Mamelodi Sundowns (12’ Shalulile) 1️⃣➖1️⃣ AS FAR (82’ Zahzouh)#Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/hyZPLds9eN

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) January 19, 2025

Sundowns will blame themselves for not finishing top of their group – unlike the near-perfect, unbeaten Pirates – as they gave away this match in the dying stages.

Nonetheless, coach Miguel Cardoso will take the result and progression to the last eight – like his bosses did after the final whistle in the suites when they applauded for the team.

The writing wasn’t always on the wall, though, as Sundowns came into this match needing a point to qualify.

An uncharacteristic feat given their previous dominance in the group stage round robin.

But the Brazilians embodied their nickname here early on, showing calm, composure and fluidity on the ball as they ensured that they dominated.

It was such a pleasant sight for the fans that South American duo – Lucas Ribeiro and Marcello Allende who usually evaporate in this competition due to physicality, came to the fore.

In fact, it was the duo who combined for the visitors’ lead as Allende made a dummy over the free-kick ball towards Ribeiro’s path before the latter took the resultant kick.

Ribeiro lobbed the ball over the wall and found Shalulile who headed past Ayoub El Khayati to lift Loftus’ roof as Sundowns edged closer to the promised land.

Cardoso sipped on water to calm his nerves in the dugout.

A much-needed sigh of relief after AS FAR threatened earlier through Tumisang Orebonye and Ahmed Hammoudan.

The Brazilians played with sheer control after their goal, exchanging passes that even former coach Rulani Mokwena, who’s now based in Morocco, would be proud of.

They survived the scare of losing Divine Lunga to a head-collision and continued to run the rule over the Moroccans following their unbeaten run in Group C coming into this game.

They proved them not worth it. So much so that Shalulile nearly scored a brace, only for his shot to be saved by El Khayati, after connecting well with Thapelo Morena’s cross in front of the box.

El Khayati was an army in one before the break.

He denied Grant Kekana a chance to score from close-range, before safely cushioning Shalulile’s effort on goal.

The Brazilians, high on confidence, nearly doubled their lead in style as Iqraam Rayners controlled well against the run of play and in front of the box, before lobbing his effort over the net.

The Yellow Nation backed up the team’s impressive dominance on the pitch by not only singing their lungs out, but by also making the life of El Khayati uncomfortable with lasers.

The Brazilians put the foot off the pedal in the later stages of the match.

And they were lucky not to be punished by the Moroccans at first.

Ribeiro initially cleared El Amine Zauhzouh’s freekick towards his own goal and his resultant block struck the upright, with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams flat-footed.

Williams nearly brought back the visitors into the game as he made a poor clearance that was intercepted by Youssef El Fahli who unceremoniously hit his shot wide of the target.

Zauhzouh finally punished the Brazilians as he connected well with El Fahli’s pass in front of the box before slotting past Williams.

Nonetheless, the Brazilians reached the quarter-final for the seventh successive season in a row, all but embodying their 'seven sign’!