Mamelodi Sundowns moved within an inch of ending a decade-long wait for a second CAF Champions League title, beating AS FAR 1-0 in a contentious first leg at Loftus Versfeld, the report says. Aubrey Modiba’s free-kick supplied the decisive goal as Sundowns headed into the second leg in Rabat on May 24 with a narrow lead.
The match was overshadowed by a late start to the second half after a breakdown in the functioning of VAR and by police firing spray canisters at AS FAR supporters in the stands, the report says. With the teams preparing for the restart, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala made the VAR signal before crossing his arms to indicate technological issues; play finally resumed at 17:23 CAT, more than 20 minutes after the scheduled kick-off, and continued without VAR.
The refereeing appointment of Ndala had already generated significant controversy, the report says. He presided over a controversial Africa Cup of Nations final four months ago that was initially won by Senegal and later awarded to Morocco on appeal; Senegal is challenging that decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The report says Senegal walked off the pitch in Rabat in protest at that match’s officiating only to return, with Édouard Mendy saving the penalty that had sparked the boycott idea, and Senegal emerged victorious on the field in extra time. The walk-off was later found to have breached tournament rules despite Ndala having allowed it at the time.
On the field in Pretoria, Sundowns dominated much of the first half, the report says. Early chances included a probing left-footed pass from Khulumani Ndamane that released Tashreeq Matthews before Marouane Louadni’s sliding recovery tackle denied the chance. AS FAR also had an effort that went off target, while Brayan León had two attempts shortly before the 20-minute mark, one from a flicked cross that went wide and another that was blocked.
Modiba produced the match’s finest moments, the report says. His 32nd-minute cross found León, whose touch was too light, and five minutes later Modiba curled a free-kick past goalkeeper Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti. After the VAR-related delay and restart without technology, Sundowns nearly conceded possession eight minutes after play resumed but escaped when a subsequent long-range effort went wide; the report says they created further chances before the final whistle.
Sundowns prevented AS FAR from scoring an away goal and will look to close out the tie in Morocco, the report says, with the second leg scheduled for Rabat on May 24.
