- CAF Champions League
- Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 KCCA
Football will forever remain one of the most unpredictable sports on the globe.
When CAF Champions League reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns faced KCCA FC in the opening leg of the first round, many predicted an easy ride for the South Africans, christened as the Brazilians.
True to the aforementioned thoughts, Mamelodi took the lead just 120 seconds into the game at the Luca Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville before a partisan crowd.
Ivorian defender, Soumahoro Bangaly headed home Tebogo Langerman’s telling cross from the left just after 2 minutes past goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan, who started in the goal posts despite having lost the father day before the team left Kampala.
Brazilian born Ricardo dos Santos Nascimento added the second when he sent Ochan the wrong way through a well converted penalty for the second goal 4 minutes later.
The penalty arose after Joseph Ochaya illegally felled down Thapelo Morena into the forbidden area before Nascimento calmly planted the ball to Ochan’s left as the bearded shot stopper dived to his right.
Infact the home team would have been three up had Richard Castro’s header not been disallowed as they ran on rampage.
KCCA’s strategy at the time was to limit the damage heading to the second half.
Save for Denis Musamali’s moment of brilliance on the left when his cross cum shot was tamed by goalie Sandilands as the first half climaxed, KCCA was a no show in the opening half.
The locker room talk from Mike Mutebi might have awakened the bodies and mental blocks of many players as they returned in the second stanza a completely different entity.
15 minutes into the half, Derrick Nsibambi came for an off colour Isaac Kirabira as the Kasasiro lads added numbers upfront.
Left back Habibu Kavuma was penalized by the day’s referee for wrestling down Percy Tau a minute after the hour mark.
The change yielded instant fruits as Nsibambi crossed for Geofrey Sserunkuma for the precious away goal in the 68th minute.
Sserunkuma was has previously played in South Africa for Vasco Da Gama, Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtics was well positioned to tap home off the telling delivery from the right for the much needed and celebrated away goal.
The immediate reaction from the home team was a sudden change when Ricardo Castro paved way for Teko Modise in the 69th minute.
Two minutes later, Pitso Mosimane introduced Yannick Zakiri for the tired though effective legs of Themba Zwane before Liberian gangly forward Anthony came on for Tiyane Mabunda.
The game was a special moment of the 17 year old Allan Okello, scorer of a beautiful hat-trick in the domestic league a few weeks ago during his club debut against crowd darling Onduparaka F.C.
The Kibuli S.S student also a graduate of the Airtel Rising Stars replaced the proven, tried, tested and trusted Sserunkuma with two minutes left on the clock.
The teenager immediately got involved in the thick of action with a low cross easily blocked by the experienced backline as the minutes trickled down the drain.
The return leg comes so fast in the next 7 days on the astro turf of the FIFA funded Phillip Omondi stadium, Lugogo in Kampala.
KCCA needs a 1-0 victory to make it to the lucrative group stages, the first feat for any Ugandan club.
Line Ups:
KCCA XI: Benjamin Ochan (GK), Denis Okot (C), Timothy Awany, Habib Kavuma, Joseph Ochaya, Isaac Kirabira, Ivan Ntege, Paul Musamali, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Geoffrey Sserunkuma and Brian Majwega
Changes:
66′ Derrick Nsibambi On, Isaac Kirabira Off
88′ Allan Okello On, Geofrey Sserunkuma Off
Subs Not used: Charles Lukwago (GK), Robert Ssentongo, Vincent Kayizzi,Denis Rukundo
Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Wayne Sandilands (G.K), Andile Ngconca, Tebogo Langerman, Soumahoro Bangaly, Ricardo Nascimento, Hlompho Kekana, Tiyane Mabunda, Thapelo Morena, Themba Zwane, Percy Tau,Themba Zwane
Changes:
69′ Teko Modise On, Leonardo Castro Off
72′ Yannick Zakri On, Themba Zwane Off
85′ Anthony Laffor On, Tiyane Mabunda Off
Subs Not Used: Kennedy Mweene (G.K), Sibusiso Vilakazi, Thabo Nthethe, Mzikayise Mashaba