Mamelodi Sundowns took a significant step toward the CAF Champions League semifinals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
The quarterfinal first leg saw a tightly contested first half, with both teams struggling to create clear scoring opportunities. Sundowns attempted a few long-range efforts that failed to trouble Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Sair, while the visitors pressed high but couldn’t break through the hosts’ defense to test Ronwen Williams.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Lucas Ribeiro delivered a clever reverse diagonal cross into the box. Jayden Adams headed the ball into a dangerous area, allowing Peter Shalulile to stab home from close range and secure the crucial lead.
With a tough second leg awaiting in Tunisia, Sundowns will aim to protect their advantage and book a spot in the semifinals.
