Egyptian giants Al Ahly left Loftus Versfeld the happier side on Saturday after a goalless draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final.
It was mission accomplished for the Red Devils, who sat back for much of the encounter and let the Brazilians have the lion's share of the ball possession. The Egyptians arrived in Pretoria and planned to park the bus, and that' exactly what they did.
Sundowns should have won the game, and will be kicking themselves as they head to Cairo for the second leg. After the game, it was the club's fans that coach Miguel Cardoso took issue with.
“I am very happy that our fans helped us, but it is so sad to see such a beautiful stadium almost empty when you have a semi-final of the Champions League,” Cardoso said, as per FARPost. “We should have a full stadium, supporting us, giving us the extra energy, that two or three per cent pushes you to be in front.
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“It is tough to play these types of games, you have the best players in Africa playing this match, and sometimes people ask me what the difference is between North African and Southern African teams. It is that when you play in Cairo, you have 90,000 fans cheering from the first to the last minute, giving the team energy despite what happens on the pitch.”
He went on to add: "To get over these kinds of teams [Al Ahly], you need everybody to play, the players, the coaches, the staff, everybody and the fans…
“It is important that in the next matches that we play at home, in the [Betway Premiership], as we have tough matches ahead, I hope the supporters will come in numbers and give us the energy we need.”
In the second leg, this coming Friday in Cairo, Sundowns will undoubtedly face a red wall of fervent Al Ahly supporters at the Cairo International Stadium.
IOL Sport