CAF Champions League: Sundowns 2 KCCA 1

Mar 10, 2017

Coach Mike Mutebi's KCCA pick up a crucial away goal against holders Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League.

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIERS

Friday result

Mamelodi Sundowns 2  KCCA FC  1

Ugandan side KCCA FC bagged a vital away goal against South African opponents and holders Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League on Friday.

Sundowns, the defending champions, led early through Soumahoro Bangaly and Ricardo Nascimento, creating the impression they would have a straightforward evening against the visitors.

But Geoffrey Sserunkuuma, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions for KCCA this season, pulled one back in the second half to create a tense home atmosphere.

KCCA coach Mike Mutebi said after the game that despite his side carrying that crucial away goal back home, it won't be easy to keep out the reigning African club champions.

"They don't play this defensive kind of football. They can come to Kampala, attack and score," he said.

Admitting that the visitors started off "jittery" and "over-respecting the defending champions", Mutebi saw his side shake off the early nerves and steady ship.

In fact, they subjected the hosts to sustained late pressure, willed on by the travelling fans, but failed to find the breakthrough for an equalizer.

Sundowns will wonder how they didn't put this tie to bed by a bigger margin, especially with the dominance they enjoyed.

Soumahoro Bangaly's fierce header, a work of good exchanges from a corner, put the hosts in front in the second minute.

Four minutes later, Ricardo Nascimento sent keeper Benjamin Ochan the wrong way from the spot when Sundowns were awarded a penalty after a Joseph Ochaya needless push on an opponent in the box.

From then on, it seemed it would be a one-sided goal fest but the visitors, who are currently leading the Ugandan premier league table, had other ideas.

It was an easy goal to concede for the home keeper as he saw Sserunkuuma's effort crawl into the back of the net in the opposite direction to spark celebrations from the away fans.

Despite seeing much of the ball and throwing everything they had at their more illustrious opponents in the final 10 or so minutes, the Ugandan side failed to get the leveler and had to settle for one away goal.

They will host Sundowns next week Saturday knowing that a 1-0 result will take them through. If they do so, they will be the first Ugandan side ever to reach that far in this competition.


 

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