CASABLANCA— Nine-man Mamelodi Sundowns held on for a barren draw against defending champions Wydad Athletic Club in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final at the Mohamed V Complex in Casablanca.
Sundowns had to play with 10 men from the 42nd minute after Neo Maema was sent off with a straight red card following a VAR on-field review by the referee. They were further reduced to nine men in the 92nd minute, substitute Marcelo Allende being sent off by another VAR intervention.
Maema had been adjudged to have played dangerously after landing his studs on Amine Aboulfath’s torso as he went down from a challenge. In added time, Allende went studs high on a challenge.
He was initially given a yellow card, but upon visiting the pitchside monitor, the referee upgraded the yellow to a red.
The South African champions endured a difficult evening in Casablanca, but at the end ensured the tie remains evenly poised heading to next weekend’s return fixture.
Masandawana had started well and thought they had scored in the ninth minute when Peter Shalulile ran to a Maema through ball, but the goal was ruled out for offside by the VAR.
The tactical battle continued between the two African heavyweights and Sundowns had another chance when skipper Themba Zwane tried his luck with a shot from distance but it rolled kindly into the keeper’s arms.
In the 24th minute, the hosts had their first effort at goal when Mohamed Ounnajem drifted from the right to the edge of the box, but his eventual shot went over.
Their closest chance was off the freekick that saw Maema sent off. Yahya Attiat Allah curled in the freekick and Ounnajem flicked over the header, but Sundowns keeper Ronwen Williams made a good save.
In the second half, Wydad pinned The Brazilians in their own half, but Sundowns defended well.
They were handed a sniff at goal in the 64th minute when Mothobi Mvala missed a clearance inside the box. Zouheir El Moutaraji picked the ball, but Williams made a brilliant block with his feet one on one.
In the 87th minute, substitute Hamid Ahadad should have done better when a cross from Hocine Benayada found him unmarked at the edge of the six yard box, but his glancing header was wide.
On the opposite end, Shalulile almost produced a moment of magic when he controlled a cross inside the box and tried an acrobatic kick, but the effort flew inches over the bar.
Sundowns will now head to the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria next weekend, knowing any kind of victory will sail them through to their first final since they won the crown in 2016.
Wydad Athletic Club’s coach Sven Vandenbroeck remains confident they can still beat the South Africans next week in Pretoria and qualify for the final.
“On the offensive side, we didn’t find enough space to create much danger. We came against a very well-organized team which plays with maturity and with very good technical qualities which allow them, even under pressure to get the ball out very easily,” the tactician, just recently appointed to the team stated.
Vandenbroeck added; “We have one week to work on several areas and we will try to be ready. We hope for a better result. The game is still open for both teams but I am confident with my team that we can still qualify.”
The tactician who returned to Morocco after a stint with AS FAR in the 2021-22 season says the coming week will give him time to implement more of his ideas to the team and plan for the right tactical approach to break a resilient Sundowns side.
Elsewhere, Esperance head coach Nabil Maaloul has resigned from his position, 24 hours after they were beaten 3-0 by Al-Ahly in the first-leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final in Rades.
The tactician said he made the decision ‘in the best interest of the club’, with their hopes of a continental title now hanging in the balance following the heavy home defeat to the record African champions.
“I decided to submit my resignation to the club president with the best interest of the team at heart,” the tactician said in his resignation statement.
“I understand the sadness and disappointment of Esperance supporters after this loss and I apologize to all of them for not being able to bring joy to their hearts.
“In the recent period, the task has not been easy for my technical staff and I and the players as well. I tried everything in my power to find solutions,” the tactician noted.
Esperance need a win of more than four goals next weekend in Cairo to overturn the first leg deficit and qualify for the final.
But, the team finds itself in a new conundrum, with the resignation of their head coach.
The coach has however made a plea to the fans to stand by the team for the rest of the season, as they seek a best possible ending to the campaign.
