Staff Reporter.
CR Belouizdad secured a 2-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League Group B match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
The win saw the Algerian club qualify for the quarter-finals as Group B runners-up, while Sundowns, had already qualified for the knockout phase as group winners.
This was sweet revenge for Belouizdad as they lost 5-1 to Sundowns in the away leg that was played in neutral Tanzania last month.
In the starting line-up‚ Sundowns’ coaching team gave rare starts to the likes of Brian Onyango‚ Khuliso Mudau‚ George Maluleka‚ captain Hlompho Kekana and Aubrey Modiba and Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Sundowns battled to keep the Algerians at bay in the earlier exchanges with a smartly taken corner-kick and a glancing header from Ahmed Gasmi going narrowly wide.
The opening goal came a minute before the half-hour mark and it was Amr Sayoud, who maintained his good form in the Champions League.
The 30-year-old attacker, who had netted against DR Congolese giants TP Mazembe last week, beat Sundowns goalkeeper Ricardo Goss to make it 1-0 to Belouizdad.
Sundowns then attacked in numbers, but they were left vulnerable at the back and they were punished by Ahmed Gasmi, who made it 2-0 to Belouizdad heading into the half-time break.
The hosts were frustrated by the Belouizdad defence after the restart with visitors determined to keep a clean sheet on the day.
Sundowns shift their focus to DStv Premiership and the Nedbank Cup next week where they face Chippa United on Monday and Orlando Pirates on Thursday.
Sundowns 0-2 Belouizdad
Sayoud 29′, Gasmi 45′
Sundowns: Goss, Nascimento, B Onyango, Mudau (Mkhuma 55′), Modiba (Lakay 67′), Mvala (Motupa 54′), Maluleka (Kapinga 55′), Kekana, Morena, Vilakazi (Maboe 68′), Shalulile.
Belouizdad: Moussaoui, Boulakhoua, Bouchar, Keddad, Hais Benderrouya, Sayoud (Koukpo 73′), Draoui, Selmi (Tarikat 60′), Gasmi (Bellahouel 60′), Bakir (Belkhir 60′), Mrezigue.