Mamelodi Sundowns secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli on Saturday to move forward in the Intercontinental Cup. Nuno Santos was the man who made the difference, scoring twice to give the African champions a memorable win at Loftus Versfeld.
Sundowns took control early and got their reward in the 17th minute when Santos opened the scoring. The Portuguese forward found the right position inside the box and finished the move to put the home side ahead.
But the advantage did not last long.
Just two minutes later, Al Ahli were level in a rather unfortunate way for Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. The Saudi side created a close-range opportunity through Feras, and although Williams managed to make the initial save, he could not hold on to the ball.
The ball came back off Williams and struck the back of his head before rolling into his own net. It was a painful moment for the Sundowns goalkeeper, especially after making the first save.
Al Ahli had opportunities to take control of the match after that, particularly before half-time. Ivan Toney led the Saudi side’s attack and was involved as they created several good chances, but Sundowns managed to survive the pressure.
The game remained close after the break, with both sides knowing that one goal could decide the tie.
That goal eventually came from Santos.
With nine minutes remaining, the Portuguese forward rose to meet the ball and produced an excellent diving header to beat the Al Ahli goalkeeper. It was his second goal of the night and gave Sundowns the lead for the second time.
This time, they held on.
Santos was delighted with his match-winning contribution after the final whistle.
“I like to be in those type of positions on the pitch and today it was great that the ball arrived perfectly for me,” he said.
The victory means Sundowns will now face either Mexican club Toluca or the winners of the Copa Libertadores later this year. The match is part of the Intercontinental Cup, which brings together champions from the six football confederations.
Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions, have already secured a direct place in the final, which is scheduled to take place in December.
FIFA is yet to confirm the dates and venue for the remaining three matches. Last year’s final stages were played in Qatar.
For Sundowns, however, the focus will now be on enjoying a big win against Al Ahli before preparing for their next challenge in the competition. Santos’ two goals made the difference, but the South African champions also showed the determination needed to get through a tight match.
