Williams Banks On Home Ground Record For Esperance Rematch

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is confident heading into the CAF Champions League semi-final second leg, relying on their unshakeable home form in the competition.
Sundowns host ES Esperance at Loftus Stadium on Friday (20:00) needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Tunisia. Their home record in the Champions League this season is immaculate: four wins and a draw, conceding no goals in the process.
This crucial encounter prompted coach Rulani Mokwena to rest his key players in Tuesday’s DStv Premiership match, prioritizing the continental clash.
“We draw inspiration from the AFL (that Sundowns won in November), where we lost away from home (2-1 to Wydad Casablanca and won 2-1 at home in the second leg),” said Williams, who was rested in that game against Sekhukhune on Tuesday.
Williams emphasized the importance of keeping a clean sheet at home.
“But in that game, it was different because we had an away goal, so now it is a bit different. But then again, we draw inspiration from the Champions League that you watched – Real Madrid (beating) Manchester City game on penalties in the quarter final of the UEFA Champions League), Barcelona (losing) PSG (in the quarter final), to just go out there and play the game, win the game.
“That’s the important thing. There are two important things for us going into tomorrow’s match, it is not to concede a goal and I don’t think we concede a lot of goals at home.
“AFL, I think we had five out of the six clean sheets. In the Champions League now as well, I don’t think we are conceding at home. Tomorrow that is the most important game, it’s not to concede and knowing us, knowing our team, we score at Loftus and that is the most important thing.
“That is the energy we will use knowing we don’t concede many goals at home and that we got goals in front of our fans.”
Sundowns will be eager to avoid a repeat of last season’s semi-final heartbreak, where they were knocked out by Wydad on the away goal rule after losing the second leg at home.