Mamelodi Sundowns with its latest win has qualified for the Champions League knockout stages for the sixth straight season, but, not only that, but they also outplayed and outsmarted the once-mighty Al Ahly.
To put this result in context, it was the second time Sundowns scored five goals against Al Ahly, following a 5-0 thrashing at Lucas Moripe Stadium in the quarterfinal round in 2019.
The Brazilians had Al Ahly by the short and curlies when they returned to the dressing room at halftime, emboldened by a raucous and near-capacity Pretoria crowd.
Sundowns won 5-2 to move to the top of Group B with 10 points, while Al Ahly’s hopes of moving to the next round were dashed with four points from four matches.
Al Ahly must win their next two group matches against Cotonsport of Cameroon and Al-Hilal Omdurman of Sudan to advance, and failing to do so will have dire consequences.
Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena made seven changes to the lineup that drew with Stellenbosch last Saturday in the league.
In midfield, Ronwen Williams replaced Reyaad Pieterse, while in defence, Mothobi Mvala and Aubrey Modiba replaced Mosa Lebusa and Terrence Mashego.
Teboho Mokoena and midfield kingpin Themba Zwane came in for Ntandoyenkosi Nkosi and Rivaldo Coetzee in the midfield, while Cassius Mailula and Marcelo Allende replaced Haashim Domingo and Thepelo Morena.
This was their second meeting in less than two weeks, and Mokwena only made one change from their previous meeting in Cairo, with Neo Maema replacing Sphelele Mkhulise.
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The result was emphatic in the end, but Mokwena, who is notorious for expecting the most from his players, will be disappointed that they only scored one goal after the break.
Sundowns could have scored more goals in the second half, but they failed to do so, allowing Al Ahly to revive and try to claw their way back into the game.
