The battle for a CAF Champions League semi-final spot remains wide open after Yanga and Sundowns drew 0-0 in Tanzania on Saturday. All eyes now turn to the second leg.
The two met in a quarterfinal first-leg tie at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and will now look to settle matters in Pretoria on Friday in the reverse fixture. Here are the talking points from that encounter.
GAME STATS
The South African champions controlled the ball more against Young Africans, but they struggled to create chances in dangerous areas. The hosts held firm, forcing Downs to keep possession in areas that didn’t threaten their goal. At the end of the first half, there was nothing to show for Sundowns’ average of 73% ball possession. The Tshwane giants had made 259 accurate passes, while their opponents had only managed 79. Of course, Yanga had three shots on target, limiting Sundowns to just one.
The Jangwani giants seemed to find their groove in the second half, but they could not convert any of the chances they created. The second half was no different as the visitors enjoyed more possession albeit in their half.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS BETWEEN THE TWO
This was the third time these two teams and tonight’s result means they have drawn twice while Sundowns won the other. They first met in the CAF Champions League in 2001 and Sundowns won the home leg [3-2] while the away leg ended 3-3 in Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian record 29-time champions are first-timers in this stage of the competition. They will be hoping to go further when they travel to South Africa next week.
ONE GOAL IN THREE QUARTERFINAL MATCHES
Three quarterfinal first-leg matches have been played so far and produced one goal. Egyptian giants Al Ahly won 1-0 against Tanzania’s Simba at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Friday. Angolan giants Petro de Luanda held TP Mazembe in DR Congo.
KEY PLAYERS MISSING
The Jangwani giants were without four key players. The Ivorian duo of Pacome Zouzoua and Kouassi Attohoula Yao, Ugandan midfield enforcer Khalid Aucho, and Tanzanian international Kibwana Shomari were all missing. Zouzoua, Yao and Aucho are all vital cogs in Miguel Gamondi’s side.
Sundowns also had their fair share of injuries and a suspension. They were forced to make an early change in the first half, subbing in Aubrey Modiba for the injured Bongani Zungu.
Themba Zwane missed the tie due to suspension while Abdelmounaim Boutouil and Rivaldo Coetzee were also sidelined. The Moroccan, Boutouil, is nursing a groin injury with Coetzee ruled out due to an undisclosed injury.
Both teams will be hoping to have their men fully recovered for the second leg which takes place at the Loftus Stadium on Friday [20h00].
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