South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Morocco’s AS FAR Rabat in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final on Sunday, thanks to a superb first-half strike from defender Aubrey Modiba.
Playing in front of their home supporters at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Sundowns delivered a disciplined performance to secure a slender advantage ahead of next weekend’s decisive return leg in Rabat.
The breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Modiba curled a brilliant free kick from outside the penalty area beyond the reach of the goalkeeper, sending the home crowd into celebration.
The goal proved to be the difference in a tense and closely contested encounter between two of Africa’s top clubs.
Sundowns had opportunities to extend their lead after the break, with Colombian forward Brayan Leon missing several clear chances in a lively spell early in the second half.
The missed opportunities could prove costly as the South African side now heads to Morocco holding only a one-goal cushion.
The match was also disrupted by technical issues involving the Video Assistant Referee system.
The second half was delayed for about 20 minutes after problems with the VAR equipment prevented play from resuming immediately.
Eventually, officials decided to continue the game without VAR, creating another controversial moment in a major African football final.
Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala oversaw the encounter but had little control over the technical malfunction that affected the flow of the match.
Late in the contest, Sundowns nearly doubled their advantage when midfielder Teboho Mokoena rattled the woodwork with a powerful free kick five minutes from time.
The victory gives Sundowns a slight edge as they pursue a second CAF Champions League title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2016.
The Pretoria-based club finished runners-up in last season’s competition and are aiming to go one step further this year.
AS FAR, meanwhile, are hoping to reclaim continental glory for the first time in over four decades after winning the old African Champions Cup in 1985.
With only one goal separating the finalists, the second leg in Rabat is expected to deliver a thrilling conclusion to this season’s CAF Champions League campaign.
The post Sundowns Edge FAR Rabat in Tight CAF Champions League Final First Leg appeared first on Africa Top Sports – #1 African Sports News.
