Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns have advanced to the semifinals of the CAF Champions League after holding Esperance de Tunis 0-0 at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis on Tuesday night.
Sundowns won the quarterfinal tie 1-0 on aggregate and avenged last season’s defeat in the semifinals of the same competition at the hands of the Blood and Gold, and they will next face off with reigning African kings Al Ahly of Egypt in in the penultimate round of this season’s tournament.
Esperance got off to a strong start and very nearly levelled the tie in the opening minutes via Youcef Belali, but Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made an excellent save to keep his side ahead on aggregate.
The Tunisian hosts went on to dominate most of the first half, though Sundowns came on strong in the minutes before the break, with Lucas Ribeiro sending a curling effort just wide, while Marcelo Allende hit the crossbar with a well-struck drive.
The Blood and Gold introduced Achref Jabri and Chiheb Jebali at the start of the second half, as they sought a way back into the tie.
And they thought they had achieved exactly that just a couple of minutes past the hour mark when Jabri found the back of the net, but a VAR review ruled out the goal and kept the South African team ahead on aggregate.
Esperance threw everything they had at Sundowns in the final stages of the match, but Sundowns – organised by former EST coach Miguel Cardoso – were able to repel all advances and secure a famous aggregate triumph.
Meanwhile Al Ahly advanced to the semifinals of the CAF Champions League with the help of Emam Ashour’s late strike, defeating Al Hilal 1-0 (2-0 on aggregate) at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium on Tuesday evening.