Mamelodi Sundowns’s Caf Champions League group stages campaign is up and running. Themba Zwane scored the crucial two goals during their highly emotionally charged clash in Atteridgeville that ensured the Brazilians overcame this highly experienced Moroccan side to move from the bottom of the log to second spot in Group A after two matches.
Sundowns went into the match under pressure following their 2-1 loss to Lobi Stars away from home two weeks ago but this massive victory has refreshed their campaign even though they did it the hard way as they wasted too many scoring opportunities in the first half.
Though it was a team performance, the star of the night was undoubtedly Zwane with the crucial goals in either half and they will travel to Ivory Coast to meet Asec Mimosas in their next match early next month with their confidence sky high.
Sundowns opened the scoring in the ninth minute through midfielder Zwane when he rifled a low shot past Wydad goalkeeper Ahmed Manar after receiving a cross from the right flank by Lebohang Maboe.
For the opener, Sundowns launched a quick counterattack which resulted in Gaston Sirino sending the ball to Maboe on the right flank from where he delivered an inch perfect pass across the face of goal to Zwane, who had enough time to trap the ball and score.
The goal injected more life into Sundowns’ work on the attack but their downfall was that they missed numerous scoring opportunities as Wydad tried to keep up with their furious pace.
Sundowns were ultimately punished for missing a number of chances when Mohammed Nahiri equalised with a thunderous shot from outside the box to level the scores but they could not hold on as Zwane had the final say with a beautiful goal in the second half.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2
Wydad Casablanca (1) 1
GOALS: Themba Zwane (9m, 64m); Mohammed Nahiri (35m)..