Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the CAF Champions League for a third straight season after only managing a 1-1 draw in the second leg.
The result sees the Angolan club win the tie 3-2 on aggregate, after a 2-1 home victory in Luanda last weekend, and end the Brazilians’ ambitions of winning a quadruple of trophies in the 2021-22 season.
This is the third successive season in which ‘Downs have exited the premier continental competition at the quarterfinal stage, leaving them no closer to adding a second title to their legendary success in 2016.
Sundowns had some early forays in attack and should have claimed an eighth-minute lead when Themba Zwane stole the ball off Petro defender Quinito and teed up Peter Shalulile, but the striker struck over the target from close range.
The Brazilians had further chances through the likes of Thapelo Morena and Neo Maema, with the latter chance arriving just after the midway point of the first half and seeing the playmaker fire a volley just over the crossbar.
The pressure continued to build in favour of the hosts and in injury time at the end of the first half Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, with the help of a VAR review, awarded Sundowns a penalty for a debatable foul on Zwane.
The attacking midfielder took the spot kick himself but struck the outside of the upright, leaving the score at 0-0 heading into the interval.
Sundowns had been frustrated throughout the first stanza, but needed less than four minutes of the second to claim the lead: Lyle Lakay whipped in an in-swinging free kick delivery from the right which was only parried by Petro goalkeeperWellington, allowing Brian Onyango to poke home the rebound and put the hosts 1-0 up.
Os Tricolores thought they had equalised on 55 minutes when Quinito turned home a loose ball from close range, though the goal was soon disallowed by a VAR review for what seemed a soft foul from Pinto on goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
However, Petro were soon awarded a penalty – again with the assistance of VAR – for a foul from Andile Jali on Gleison. Tiago Azulao scored from the spot on 64 minutes to make it 1-1 on the night and put the Angolan visitors back in charge of the tie.
Sundowns missed out on a great chance to go back in front on 75 minutes when Rushine De Reuck got on the end of another fine free kick delivery but put a glancing header just wide of the target.
Petro succeeded in wasting time and breaking up Sundowns’ attacking rhythm for what remained of the match, safely securing a draw on the road and a famous victory overall.
The Angolan giants will face either CR Belouizdad of Algeria or Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca in the semifinals, scheduled to be played on 6-7 and 13-14 May.