Mamelodi Sundowns' CAF Champions League defence may still be on track but their indifferent home form showed no signs of abating after their 1-1 draw against AS Vita last night.
They finished Group C in second place behind Tunisia's Esperance, who beat Ethiopia's St George 4-0 at home, also yesterday.
Sundowns now have the tough task of hosting Group D winners Wydad Casablanca in the quarterfinal on the weekend of September 8-10 before the return leg the following weekend. Sundowns played well and should have been full value for the three points but they were inexplicably fancy in front of goal.
The hosts made their early intentions clear when Bangaly Soumahoro, Percy Tau and Anthony Laffor all came close.
It was imperative they put AS Vita on the back foot even though the Congolese club were out of the running.
They also came into the country 24 hours before the game with a host of key players missing the match to focus on their remaining domestic league matches.
It took a combination of defenders Thabo Nthethe and Thapelo Morena to break the deadlock in the 35th minute.
Morena's defence-splitting pass caught the Vita defence with their pants down, and with a finish that would have made most strikers green with envy, Nthethe coolly slotted the ball past the advancing Lukong Bongaman.
Yannick Zakri should've scored a second but his selfishness got the better of him.
Oumar Sidibe had the two clear-cut Vita chances but couldn't get past Kennedy Mweene. He was eventually beaten by Yazid Emane in the 74th minute.
Soumahoro's 90th minute shot that was well saved by Bongaman was the game's last act as the players moved to the east stand to celebrate with the Yellow Faithful.
Clinical Nthethe shows strikers how it's done
Mamelodi Sundowns' CAF Champions League defence may still be on track but their indifferent home form showed no signs of abating after their 1-1 draw against AS Vita last night.
They finished Group C in second place behind Tunisia's Esperance, who beat Ethiopia's St George 4-0 at home, also yesterday.
Sundowns now have the tough task of hosting Group D winners Wydad Casablanca in the quarterfinal on the weekend of September 8-10 before the return leg the following weekend. Sundowns played well and should have been full value for the three points but they were inexplicably fancy in front of goal.
The hosts made their early intentions clear when Bangaly Soumahoro, Percy Tau and Anthony Laffor all came close.
It was imperative they put AS Vita on the back foot even though the Congolese club were out of the running.
They also came into the country 24 hours before the game with a host of key players missing the match to focus on their remaining domestic league matches.
It took a combination of defenders Thabo Nthethe and Thapelo Morena to break the deadlock in the 35th minute.
Morena's defence-splitting pass caught the Vita defence with their pants down, and with a finish that would have made most strikers green with envy, Nthethe coolly slotted the ball past the advancing Lukong Bongaman.
Yannick Zakri should've scored a second but his selfishness got the better of him.
Oumar Sidibe had the two clear-cut Vita chances but couldn't get past Kennedy Mweene. He was eventually beaten by Yazid Emane in the 74th minute.
Soumahoro's 90th minute shot that was well saved by Bongaman was the game's last act as the players moved to the east stand to celebrate with the Yellow Faithful.
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