Mamelodi Sundowns moved up to second place in Group C after claiming a 2-1 victory over AS Togo-Port in the Caf Champions League on Friday evening, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
The home side came out guns blazing and took the lead after 10 minutes when Gaston Sirino slotted the ball home after latching on to a pass from Themba Zwane.
Sundowns then doubled their lead six minutes later after Sibusiso Vilakazi found the back of the net with a cheeky backheel to make it 2-0.
Jeremy Brockie should’ve extended Sundowns’ lead even further in the 25th minute, but saw his effort cleared off the line.
Togo-Port nearly pulled a goal back 10 minutes before the break when Fousseni Yacoubou unleashed a thunderous strike from inside the area, but Dennis Onyango was on hand to make the save.
The Brazilians went into the half-time interval with a two-goal lead over Togo-Port.
Sundowns picked up where they left off in the first half as Sirino played a sublime through ball into the path of Brockie, but the striker was brought down on the 35-yard mark. Sirino stepped up to take the free kick, forcing Jean-Robert Klomegan to make a full-stretch save to deny the wing.
In the 57th minute, Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana spotted Klomegan off his line before unleashing one of his trademark long-range strikes, but the Togo-Port shot-stopper did well to make the save.
Brockie nearly extended his side’s lead even further seven minutes later after Vilakazi sent an inviting ball across the face of goal, but the New Zealand striker fired his effort into the side netting.
Pitso Mosimane made his first substitution of the game when he introduced debutant Jose Ali Meza to replace Vilakazi.
Zwane missed a great opportunity to find the back of the net when he unleashed a strike from distance, but his effort sailed over the target.
Tebogo Langerman was unlucky not to have found the third goal for Sundowns 15 minutes before time after his goal-bound effort was parried away by Klomegan.
With six minutes left to play in the game, the visiting side eventually pulled a goal back courtesy of Kloukpo.
However, Sundowns managed to hold on to their 2-1 lead over AS Togo-Port until the final whistle to claim their first win in Group C.
