Colombian-born striker Brayan Leon saw his penalty saved but tucked away the rebound on ​Saturday to put South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns ‌through to the African Champions League final at the expense of Esperance of Tunisia.

Leon had his 35th-minute spot kick ​parried by visiting goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said ​but snapped up the rebound to ensure a ⁠1-0 home win at Loftus Versfeld.

Leon had scored ​the only goal of last Sunday’s first leg ​in Tunis and the 2-0 aggregate triumph means Sundowns are through to the final for a second successive season.

They will ​take on Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces. Sundowns, runners-up last season, were awarded the penalty after a throw-in back to Ben Said caught the ​goalkeeper napping ​as he ⁠tried to clear, with Leon sprinting down on him and getting a touch ​to the ball before the keeper made ​contact ⁠with him as he attempted to kick the ball clear.

Esperance came close to an equaliser minutes before ⁠halftime ​when an effort off the ​knee of French striker Florin Danho struck the Sundowns’ crossbar.

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Zamalek booked their place in the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Congo’s Otoho, surviving a tough clash in Cairo to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

The Egyptian side looked to be cruising after racing into a two-goal lead early on, but a late goal, a red card, and an extraordinary finish — which saw striker Seifeddine Jaziri forced into goal — turned the match into a tense battle for survival.

In the end, Zamalek held firm under pressure to secure their place in the last four, where they will face Algeria’s CR Belouizdad.

Fast start puts Zamalek in control

Backed by a lively home crowd at Cairo International Stadium, Zamalek started with intent and quickly imposed themselves on the contest.

Their breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Hossam Abdel-Maguid rose highest to meet a well-delivered corner from Abdullah El-Said, powering a header past the goalkeeper.

Just minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage.

Oday Dabbagh reacted quickest inside the penalty area after El-Said’s initial effort was parried, calmly finishing the rebound to give Zamalek a commanding lead on the night.

With momentum firmly on their side, Zamalek continued to threaten, coming close to a third goal before the break as efforts struck the woodwork in quick succession.

Missed chances keep tie alive

Despite their dominance, Zamalek were unable to extend their lead further, leaving the tie still within reach for the visitors.

Otoho, largely contained in the first half, showed glimpses of danger on the counterattack but struggled to break down a well-organised Zamalek defence.

As the second half unfolded, the tempo slowed slightly, with Zamalek appearing in control as they managed possession and limited clear opportunities for the Congolese side.

Late drama shifts momentum

The match took a dramatic turn in the closing stages.

In the 83rd minute, Otoho reignited the contest when Grace Mavungo unleashed a powerful strike from distance that flew past the goalkeeper, reducing the deficit and injecting tension into the stadium.

Moments later, the situation escalated further.

Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi was shown a straight red card following an altercation with an Otoho player, leaving the hosts with ten men and no recognised goalkeeper on the pitch.

With all substitutions already used, forward Seifeddine Jaziri was forced to don the gloves, creating an extraordinary scenario in the dying minutes of a high-stakes continental tie.

Holding on under pressure

Sensing an opportunity, Otoho pushed forward relentlessly in search of a second goal that would have changed the outcome of the tie.

The visitors launched a series of attacks, attempting long-range efforts and crosses into the penalty area, testing Zamalek’s makeshift defensive setup.

Jaziri, now guarding the goal, was protected by a determined defensive effort as Zamalek players threw themselves into challenges and blocked attempts to preserve their advantage.

Seven minutes of added time felt like an eternity for the home supporters, but Zamalek managed to withstand the pressure and see out the match.

Semi-final place secured

The final whistle sparked relief and celebration among the Zamalek players and fans, confirming their progression to the semi-finals.

-Cafonline

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Mamelodi Sundowns held firm under intense pressure in Bamako to book their place in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, advancing 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-0 second-leg defeat to Stade Malien on Sunday.

The South African champions, who arrived with a commanding first-leg advantage, were pushed to the brink by a determined Stade Malien side but ultimately did enough to secure a fourth consecutive semi-final appearance.

Early Shock in Bamako

The hosts made a dream start, taking the lead inside the opening minute through Taddeus Nkeng, whose close-range header was confirmed by VAR after an initial offside call. The early goal ignited the home crowd and unsettled Sundowns, who struggled to find their rhythm amid relentless pressing from the Malian side.

Nkeng appeared to double the lead moments later, but VAR once again intervened to rule the effort out for offside, offering Sundowns a temporary reprieve.

Mandjan Strikes as Hosts Take Control

Stade Malien’s pressure paid off just before half-time when Haman Mandjan capitalised on a loose ball in the penalty area, firing home a powerful shot off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-0 on the night.

With the aggregate scoreline now finely balanced, momentum swung firmly in favour of the hosts, while Sundowns struggled to create clear chances, with Arthur Sales missing their best opportunity of the half.

Sundowns Regain Composure

After the break, Sundowns showed greater composure, slowing the tempo and attempting to reassert control. They thought they had found a crucial away goal when Iqraam Rayners turned the ball home from close range, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Coach Miguel Cardoso responded by introducing fresh legs as his side focused on game management and protecting their aggregate lead.

Late Drama and Defensive Resolve

The closing stages brought further tension when Sundowns were reduced to ten men following a straight red card for Aubrey Modiba.

Sensing an opportunity to force extra time, Stade Malien launched wave after wave of attacks, testing goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. However, the Sundowns defence held firm, showing resilience and discipline to withstand the late onslaught despite their numerical disadvantage.

Aggregate Advantage Seals Progress

Although beaten on the night, Sundowns’ first-leg dominance ultimately proved decisive as they advanced to the last four.

For Stade Malien, the result marked a valiant effort that came close to overturning the tie, while Sundowns once again demonstrated the experience and composure required to navigate the pressures of knockout football at the highest level on the continent.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H