Mamelodi Sundowns will feel they let one slip through their fingers after being held to a 2-2 draw by a fiercely efficient Al Hilal at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night. In a match where possession and pressure belonged almost entirely to the Brazilians, it was the Sudanese giants who walked away looking like the more satisfied of the two sides.
An early shock sets the tone
Loftus barely had time to settle before Al Hilal delivered a gut punch. Against the run of play, Abdel Raouf found space inside the box and calmly slotted past Ronwen Williams to give the visitors a 15th-minute lead from what was their only attempt in the opening half.
Sundowns, however, did not panic. True to their identity as Bafana Ba Style, they hit back just seven minutes later. A pinpoint cross from Nuno Santos found Arthur Sales, who controlled beautifully before guiding the ball into the bottom corner to level matters. With that, the match opened up, but the hosts still struggled to turn their dominance into meaningful chances.
A Sundowns screamer and another sucker punch
Miguel Cardoso’s side returned from the break determined to take control, and they did exactly that. On 64 minutes, Teboho Mokoena reminded Africa why his long-range shots have cult status. After a smart short-corner routine, Mokoena let fly from distance, sending Loftus into celebration mode.
But just as Sundowns began to settle into their rhythm, Raouf struck again. With Al Hilal’s second shot of the entire game, the forward punished another lapse to make it 2-2 in the 71st minute. It was a moment that summed up the night: Sundowns doing everything except burying the result, and Al Hilal capitalising on their rare flashes forward.
Injuries and frustration in the final push
Cardoso’s side pushed hard for a late winner, but momentum shifted with two unfortunate setbacks. Both Arthur Sales and Keanu Cupido picked up injuries within minutes of each other, forcing Sundowns into reshuffled tactics during a crucial phase of the match.
Al Hilal finished with ten men after Emmanuel Flomo was shown a straight red card in the 85th minute, yet the visitors stood firm. Even with wave after wave of pressure from Sundowns, the Blue Wave clung onto their point with determination.
A missed opportunity in Group C
With both teams entering the match level on four points, Sundowns were hoping to build a gap at the top of the group. Instead, they remain neck-and-neck with Al Hilal, who will certainly take confidence from snatching a draw away from home with just a handful of goal attempts.
For Sundowns, the performance had many positives, but the finishing and defensive lapses will raise questions as the CAF Champions League intensity increases.
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Source: Super Sport
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