Sundowns Sink Enyimba in the Caf Champions League
Nigerian
champions Enyimba were condemned to a second successive defeat in the Caf
Champions League after going down 2-1 to South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns
Wednesday night.
Wayne Arendse’s
deflected strike late in the second half proved to be the decisive moment as
Sundowns got their first three points of this season’s competition.
Enyimba’s head
coach, Paul Aigbogun rang the changes after their 1-0 defeat to Egyptian
outfit Zamalek on matchday 1, bringing on Moses Ocheje for first-choice
goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai, but his plans came unstuck three minutes
before half-time when Leonard Castro struck to give the hosts the lead in
Pretoria.
However, the
People’s Elephant hit back in decisive fashion in the 58th minute as Dare Ojo’s
fearsome volley flew in off the cross bar with the Sundowns goalkeeper
Sandilands Wayne rooted to the spot.
Arendse struck the winner for the Brazilians late on |
And the 2-time
champions missed an opportunity to take the lead moments later as substitute
Udoh headed a beautifully delivered corner-kick just wide.
Sundowns then
turned on the screw, with Khama Billiat placing a shot just wide of the far
post after good movement from the Brazilian with 15 minutes left on the clock.
The sustained
pressure paid off in the 78th minute as Arendse netted the winning goal when he
finished off a cross from the left.
Billiat almost
settled the match as a contest in the 82nd minute but saw his superb low strike
expertly stopped by Ocheje as Sundowns held on for the win that left Enyimba
bottom of Group B after two games.
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