Advertisement

Sundowns held by Al Hilal in four-goal thriller

rugby23 January 2026 20:32| © Backpage TXT
Share

Mamelodi Sundowns will view this as two points dropped after they drew 2-2 with Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League at Loftus Versfeld on Friday on Friday night.

Abdel Raouf gave the Blue Wave a shock lead on 15 minutes, but Arthur Sales quickly restored parity to ensure the two teams remained deadlocked at halftime.

Advertisement

Teboho Mokoena put Miguel Cardoso's side ahead with a typical long-range screamer, only for Raouf to equalise seven minutes later and keep the Sudanese giants level with the Brazilians in Group C.

Bafana Ba Style and Al Hilal were the early frontrunners in their group after picking up four points each from their opening two matches.

The former played out to a 0-0 stalemate with MC Alger most recently on November 28, while the latter squandered an early lead to draw 1-1 against Saint-Eloi Lupopo two days later.

The hosts dominated possession as expected in the first half and they threatened to make the breakthrough on nine minutes when Nuno Santos surged towards goal from midfield before firing off a shot that was saved by Farid Ouedraogo.

But it was Laurentiu Reghecampf's side who took a surprise lead on the quarter-hour mark with their one and only attempt at goal as Raouf beat Ronwen Williams with a clinical finish from inside the box.

Masandawana weren't trailing for long, however, after Santos sent in a dangerous cross into the box and Sales did well to bring the ball under control before slotting home into the bottom left corner in the 22nd minute.

Brayan Leon was brought on at the start of the second half for his CAF Champions League debut and the Colombian striker almost made an immediate impact when he looked to set up Thato Sibiya inside the area, only for Ouedraogo to cut out the danger.

Sundowns left the visitors feeding off scraps and they deservedly hit the front for the first time on 64 minutes through a trademark strike from Mokoena, who received the ball from Tashreeq Matthews following a short corner and a let rip from range to send the back of the net bulging.

Their lead lasted just seven minutes though, as Raouf struck again for the Blue Wave with only their second shot of the game.

The Brazilians continued to push for another goal in the closing stages, but they suffered two setbacks as Sales and Keanu Cupido were both forced off through injury in the space of just eight minutes.

Al Hilal were then dealt a late blow when substitute Emmanuel Flomo received a straight red card on 85 minutes, although they managed to hold on for a share of the spoils.

Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2 (Sales 22', Mokoena 64')

Al Hilal (1) 2 (Raouf 15', 71')

Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, K. Mudau, G. Kekana, K. Cupido (K. Johannes 84'), T. Sibiya (F. Basadien 66'), T. Mokoena, A. Sales (K. Lethlaku 76'), M. Allende, N. Santos, T. Matthews (T. Morena 66'), L. Mothiba (B. Leon 46').

Al Hilal: F. Ouedraogo, S. Ebuela, M. Ering (O. Diouf 36'), M. Karshoum, E. Luzolo, S. Adel (E. Flomo 75'), A. Raouf, W. Khedr (M. Kane 46'), J. Girumugisha (A. Petrus 90+1'), M. Abdelrahman (S. Adetunji 75'), A. Coulibaly.

Advertisement