Champions League Sundowns start Group A campaign with narrow win over Al Hilal

Mamelodi Sundowns started their CAF Champions League Group A campaign with a 1-0 win over Al-Hilal Omdurman of Sudan at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Friday evening.

The DStv Premiership champions named a strong starting XI with Denis Onyango between the sticks and striker Peter Shalulile leading the frontline.

Hilal, who are coached by Portuguese Joao Motta, chose the perfect stage to hand a debut to former Baroka FC winger Gerald Phiri Junior right in South Africa.

When the match started, Sundowns scored through Themba Zwane in the seventh minute after high pressing had seen the visitors make a forced error and they got punished.

Hilal had some chances, including through Abduljeleel who was denied by Sundowns Ugandan keeper Denis Onyango’s decent save.

Hilal also had a goal-bound effort cleared off the line.

The South Africa league champions share the group with the holders Al Ahly SC and Al-Merrikh SC.

Sundowns line-up: D.Onyango, Coetzee, De Reuck, B. Onyango, Lakay, Jali, Mudau, Sirino, Zwane, Safranko, Shalulile.


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