- Caf Champions League
- Sundowns 2-1 KCCA
KCCA will return from Pretoria encouraged by Geoffrey Sserunkuma’s second half goal after the Ugandans survived a first half hammering from African champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Friday.
Sundowns won this first leg of the Caf Champions League 2-1 ahead of the return next Saturday. The match will be played at an unfamiliar – for Sundowns – artificial turf at Phillip Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.
The Masandawana went into the match as huge favourites but without their superstars in forward Khama Billiat and African Player of the Year – goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
From the onset the South African champions assert their authority and the early pressure paid off.
Sundowns defender Bangaly Soumahoro opened the scoring in the second minute as the Ivorian directed his header home from a tight angle.
Minutes later Sundowns were awarded a penalty after Thapelo Morena was adjudged to have been brought down inside the box.
Ricardo Nascimento stepped up and dispatched his penalty beyond KCCA goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan to double Sundowns’ advantage.
Sundowns then thought they had their third goal of the evening as Castro found himself on the end of a pinpoint cross on 17 minutes but the Colombian’s goal was disallowed by the referee for an infringement.
KCCA returned from the break a much more improved side as they searched for a vital away goal.
That goal arrived 69 minute when Sserunkuma expertly turned in a low cross from the right to manager Mike Mutebi’s delight.
KCCA will progress to the next stage if they beat Sundowns 1-0 in Kampala next weekend.