صحف جنوب أفريقيا تتحسر على خروج صنداونز على أيدي الهلال

Quote: Downs win not enough in Africa Vata Ngobeni 12 May 2008 Pretoria News Mamelodi Sundowns’ ambitions of challenging for the CAF Champions League ended yesterday despite a 1-0 win over Al Hilal of Sudan in the third round second leg at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville. Sundowns lost 4-3 in aggregate. This was the second consecutive time Sundowns failed to pass the Champions League third round stage after being knocked out by Al Ahly of Egypt last year. Frankly, Sundowns performance of yesterday was not of a team desperate to advance to the group stages. Sundowns’ only goal was scored by Surprise Moriri and they could have led as early as the 35th minute had it not been for Peter Ndlovu’s shot which went straight to Hilal goalkeeper Elmuz Abdalla. With the introduction of Carelse for Jorge Acuna in the second half Sundowns looked more aggressive and Moriri scored with only two minutes into the second half with a beautiful goal which came from an from Esrom Nyandoro pass. The visitors never looked to threaten Sundowns and it was in fact the hosts who enjoyed possession with the visitors defence managing to keep them at bay. Hilal almost scored any equalizer in the 60th minute but Sundowns goalkeeper Brain Baloyi parried Mahamemed Tahirosman’s shot inside the penalty box to Saif Eldin Du Farah’s legs, but Farah shot the rebound wide. Hilal made their first replacement in the 67th minute introducing Alaa Eldin Ahmed Gbreel for their captain Hytham Mostafa Abdullah. Moloto introduced Bryan Aldave for Luvhengo Mungomeni in the 72nd with the hope to adding more pressure to Hilal using three strikers upfront. Benson Mhlongo nearly cost Sundowns in the 77th minute with a mistake but Hilal striker Hamad’s shot went straight to Baloyi’s hands. With this defeat Sundowns must will now concentrate on the Nedbank Cup final and also to cement a top eight finish on the PSL table. Team Downs (4-5-1): Baloyi, Mungomeni(Aldave 72th), Manzini, Mhlongo, Lekgothoane, Acuna, Nyandoro(Carelse 45th), Moriri, Chababgu, Ndlovu, Dladla Hilal(4-4-2); Abdalla, Karar(Ahmed 67th), Bakhaeet, Mohamemed, Xousif, Lado, Kelechiosunwa(Elaziz 90th), Tahirosman, Farah, Khan, Onigbon