Nine-Man Sundowns Play To Draw With Champions Wydad In Casablanca

Ten-man Mamelodi Sundowns managed to come out unscathed in Casablanca as they drew 0-0 against champions Wydad Atheltic Club in their first-leg semi-final at the Stade Mohamed V.

Sundowns started the game the brighter of the two sides and showcased why they’ve become one of the most fearsome sides on the continent with some slick passing play and keeping the ball away from the home side.

The WAC supporters were left in disbelief for large spells of the opening half and it was dead silence when Peter Shalulile put the ball at the back of the net inside the opening 15 minutes, but it was correctly ruled out after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.

But the technology went on to play another crucial role in the opening half when Neo Maema received a straight red after he was adjudged to have made a studs-up challenge with excessive force – two minutes before the break.

However, the home side couldn’t make use of their numerical advantage and went closest to opening the scoring through last season’s finalist hero Zouheir El-Moutaraji but Ronwen Williams reacted quickly to maintain his clean sheet.

Things got from bad to worse though, as returning playmaker, Marcelo Allende was sent off with another VAR check for a similar incident in second half stoppage time.

Sundowns looked content to keep the game goalless, keeping possession but not taking too many risks as they held onto the score to take to the second leg at Loftus Versfeld next week, with a place in the final, likely against Al Ahly, awaiting the winner of the tie.