FILE PHOTO: South Africa giant Mamelodi Sundowns will have to overcome a 2-0 defeat in order to advance to the semis of the CAF Champions League on Saturday when the host Al Ahly. PICTURE: Backpagepix
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0 PRETORIA: Sundowns fell short to a first leg 2-0 defeat against Al Ahly after the Reds managed to secure the victory in Cairo.
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mosa Lebusa has acknowledged the Brazilians complicated things for themselves with the first leg defeat to Egypt powerhouse Al Ahly in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal but pledged to work their best for a comeback.
Sundowns fell short to a first leg 2-0 defeat against Al Ahly after the Reds managed to secure the victory in Cairo thanks to goals from Taher Mohamed Taher and Salah Mohsen.
The first leg result is identical to the one Al Ahly achieved against the South Africa giants last season when they faced them, before the Red Devils sealed qualification with a 1-1 draw in the return leg in Pretoria.
Now with Pitso Mosimane coaching the other side, he will hope play his second Champions League semifinal in a row since taking over Al Ahly in October 2020.
However, Lebusa is adamant have received a big motivation from coach Manqoba Mngqithi who highly trusts the Masandawana can get over the first leg and make it through.
“I think the second leg is going to be a different ball game. We have to give it our all. We have to attack and defend as well,” Lebusa told reporters.
“We made it a little bit harder for ourselves in the first leg. We conceded two goals, we have ourselves to blame. But the first leg is done, now we are looking forward to the second leg and we have to work hard like the coach said that if there is anyone who can do it, he believes it is us.”
“Hearing such words from the coach gives us that extra motivation, that extra push that we want to do better. We want to put the club into the Champions League semifinal.”
“It is very different in the PSL, sometimes you make mistakes and you get away with it, while in the Champions League you have to be clinical if you get a chance. You make sure you use it because if you don’t, it will come back to bite you. Teams are more organised in the Champions League, and in the PSL you get away with a lot of things,” he concluded.
The second leg clash will take place on Saturday, May 22 at 15:00 SAST and will be broadcast live on SABC 1 as confirmed by the channel.
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