Mamelodi Sundowns welcomed Al Ahli Saudi Club to Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon for their blockbuster FIFA Intercontinental Cup clash.
The Brazilians qualified for the tournament by winning last season’s CAF Champions League, while their opponents arrived as reigning Asian champions.
Sundowns got off to a dream start in Pretoria when Nuno Santos met Teboho Mokoena’s pinpoint cross in the 17th minute, heading home into the bottom corner.
The visitors struck back immediately through a comical Ronwen Williams own goal just two minutes later.
Williams made up for his error before half time by producing a stunning save to deny Francisco Trincão’s glancing header, which was bound for the top corner.
Khulumani Ndamani almost restored Sundowns’ lead around the hour mark, but somehow failed to hit the target from close range following a free kick.
Just as extra time loomed, Nuno Santos popped up to seal the victory, completing his brace in the 81st minute with a superb diving header directly into the bottom corner.
Mamelodi Sundowns will now proceed to the ‘semi-finals’ where they’ll face either the North American or South American champions.
The winner from that clash will then face European champions Paris Saint-Germain, who were granted a free passage into the final.
Beyond booking their place in the next round, Saturday’s triumph also saw Mamelodi Sundowns crowned FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Champions.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
