Peter Shalulile saved Mamelodi Sundowns from an embarrassment as they were staring at a defeat at the hands of AS Maniema Union in the CAF Champions League match at Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte on Saturday.

Shalulile scored twice in the last minutes to see Sundowns win 2-1 and remain second in the Group B  

Before Shalulile scored the winner, Sundowns captain captain Ronwen Williams showed why he is rated so highly as the best goalie in Africa as he saved from Rachidi Musinga, spreading his body big to make a save. 

In a high-stakes game, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso made four changes to the side that succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Raja Casablanca in their last outing.  

Mosa Lebusa, Sphelele Mkhulise, Thapelo Morena, and Arthur Sales were handed starting berths while Khuliso Mudau and Bathusi Aubaas were suspended after receiving their marching orders in Morocco. 

However, it was the host who came close to finding the opener from a free kick in the 16th minute, but Ordy Simete’s header was wide of target.  

Four minutes later, Maniema continued to ask questions with an inviting cross into the box which was headed over the crossbar by Jephte Kitambala. 

Maniema got their first shot on target with a snapshot from a corner kick in the 23rd minute, but Williams was equal to the task in goal.  

The Brazilians on the other end asked questions of their own against the run of play with Marcelo Allende finding the side netting. 

The DR Congo outfit made another box entry in their bid to open the scoring with another deep cross from the right flank finding Obed Mbala, who saw his half-volley attempt go wrong as he sent it three minutes after the half-hour mark. 

From a short corner which resulted in a quick one-two, Teboho Mokoena’s long-range shot went agonizingly over the crossbar. The home team broke the deadlock through Kitambala, who got away from Mokoena to score with a grass cutter from the outside of his boot in the 38th minute. 

The opener rattled the visitors as the home team grew in confidence, which saw Allende get booked for conceding a free kick on the edge of the box which flicked over a Downs player for a Maniema corner that was dealt with for a 1-0 scoreline at half time.  

Cardoso made a tactical change introducing Tashreeq Matthews in place of Sales in the second stanza. Downs made their comeback intentions clear as Mokoena attempted another effort from range which flew over the bar. 

The South African champions came close to leveling matters on the hour mark after Morena was on the receiving end of a defense-splitting pass, but the former Bloemfontein Celtic player couldn’t beat the Maniema shot-stopper from close range. 

Terrence Mashego and Kutlwano Letlhaku entered the fray for Divine Lunga and Mkhulise respectively in the 62nd minute. Lucas Ribeiro attempted a cheeky lob with his head 10 minutes later but Lyongo Efonge in goal was alert to the danger. 

Second-half substitute Shalulile, who came on for Ribeiro, leveled matters after two minutes on the pitch as he found himself unmarked at the far post, pouncing on a delivery from Mokoena in the 83rd minute to change the complexity of the game. 

Shalulike grabbed his brace as he beat the offside trap, but the ball appeared to have not come from him and might be changed to an own goal. But Sundowns won’t care as they were on jaws of the defeat.  

Sundowns remain in second place with eight points accumulated after five matches played. Maniema is at the bottom with three points and they are out of the competition.