Al Hilal Stun Sundowns To A Thrilling Draw In CAF

Mamelodi Sundowns played out a nail-biting 2-2 draw against Al Hilal in their highly anticipated CAF Champions League group stage top-of-the-table clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Friday evening.

The Brazilians came to this game looking for their fifth victory against Hilal, as they won four and played two draws in their previous six encounters.

The game started on a high note with both teams creating many chances in the first 25 minutes, but it was Al Hilal who scored first in the 15th minute through Abdel Raouf’s left-footed shot from the centre of the box.

In the 22nd minute, the Brazilians found an equaliser through Arthur  Sales’ right-footed shot from the centre of the box as well.

Al Hilal suffered a blow in the 35th minute when Mohamed Ahmed got an injury and was replaced by Ousmane Diouf.

Both teams continued with a great display in the last minutes, but the first 45 minutes ended 1-1 as no one managed to score.

In the second half, the Brazilians started strongly, dominating the first 20 minutes of play.

Their persistence paid off in the 65th minute when Teboho Mokoena scored a crucial goal with a right-footed shot from outside the box, following a short corner kick.

The Brazilians were now leading 2-1, and it seemed like they were in control of the game.

However, their lead was short-lived, as Al Hilal equalized six minutes later through Raouf’s right-footed shot from the center of the box, completing his brace.

In the 79th minute, Sundowns thought they had regained the lead when Thapelo Morena unleashed a powerful long-range shot, but unfortunately, it was blocked by the Al Hilal defense.

Sundowns had a numerical advantage with five minutes to go after Emmanuel Flomo was sent off for pushing Khuliso Mudau, with his hands touching the face of the Bafana Bafana defender.

Despite both teams’ efforts to score a winning goal in the last minutes of the game, neither team could find the net. The match ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw.

As a result of this draw, the Brazilians remain at the top of Group C with five points, while Al Hilal are in second position with five points as well.

The two teams will face each other again on 30 January, with the Brazilians set to play away from home.

Meanwhile, the Betway Premiership match between Richards Bay and Siwelele ended in a 1–1 draw at the Umhlathuze Sports Ground on Friday.