Mamelodi Sundowns remain top of their CAF Champions League group despite dropping points for the second straight game against Pyramids FC on Sunday afternoon.
CAF Champions League
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Pyramids FC
Date: 10 December 2023
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Sundowns made only one change to the side that edged AmaZulu in the domestic league, as Thapelo Maseko was recalled in place of Sphelele Mkhulise and joined Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile in attack. Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana forward Fagrie Lakay was in the line-up for Pyramids.
The game was tactical in the early exchanges, with Pyramids playing with numbers behind the ball.
The encounter was also very physical, with the Egyptian side making things uncomfortable for Sundowns and the hosts had an injury casualty midway into the first stanza as Abdelmounaim Boutouil had to be replaced by Thapelo Morena.
Rulani Mokwena's charges started to get some chances on set-pieces around the half-hour mark, as Mosa Lebusa had a headed effort over the crossbar and Grant Kekana's header was saved by goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy.
Pyramids stayed more in their own half towards the end of the first stanza and frustrated the Brazilians, who could not carve out clear openings and the sides were deadlocked at halftime.
The African Football League champions started the second stanza with urgency in attack, as they threatened going forward.
The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock on the hour-mark after Shalulile latched onto a rebound at the near post after Costa forced El Shenawy into a save but the Namibian could not get his feet right.
As the Brazilians committed numbers going forward, they were nearly punished on a counter-attack 20 minutes before time after Teboho Mokoena was dispossessed as the last defender and a cross was made to Lakay, whose shot was blocked the recovering Mosa Lebusa.
Masandawana were desperate for the winner with a double attacking change in the last ten minutes, as Sipho Mbule and Gaston Sirino both came on for Mokoena and Costa for fresh legs as well.
Shalulile found the back of the net for Sundowns nine minutes before time with a volley from a corner but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The Tshwane giants continued to pressurize Pyramids in the dying minutes and the Egyptian side, who were wasting time, were reduced to ten men in the last two minutes after Osama Gamal received a second yellow card.
Masandawana camped inside Pyramids' half in long added time but could not get chances, as the sides got a point apiece in Group A.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Lebusa, Mudau, Boutouil, Kekana, Mokoena, Maseko, Allende, Zwane, Ribeiro, Shalulile
Subs: D.Onyango, Nku, Zungu, Nasir, Sirino, Mashego, Mbule, Morena, Maboe
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