The second half exploded into life almost immediately. Sundowns were forced into a change at the restart, with Marcello Allende introduced for Kutlwano Letlhaku, but the bigger shock came from the sidelines where reserve goalkeeper Onyango was shown a straight red card for his behaviour off the bench, adding an early layer of tension to an already boiling contest.
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AS FAR came out aggressively, sensing momentum. Their pressure forced Sundowns into deeper defensive lines, with Reda Slim and El Fahli constantly probing wide areas. The hosts thought they had earned a lifeline when VAR intervened again on 74 minutes, awarding a penalty after a challenge involving Ronwen Williams on El Fahli.
But in a defining moment of the tie, Williams stood tall. The Sundowns captain went the right way and produced a crucial intervention, pushing the effort away to keep the aggregate lead intact. It was a moment that would ultimately define the final.
AS FAR continued to throw bodies forward. Slim nearly turned provider, Hadraf forced uncertainty in the box, and Hrimat delivered dangerous set-pieces that kept Sundowns under constant siege. At the other end, Sundowns nearly struck a killer blow when Mothiba thought he had doubled their advantage, only for the assistant referee’s flag to cut short the celebration.
The closing stages became frantic. Cupido and Adams were both booked as Sundowns tried to manage the game’s temperature, while AS FAR piled forward in desperation. A late chance inside the box in stoppage time flew over the bar, summing up their night.
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When the whistle finally arrived after eight minutes of added time, relief poured through the visitors. Mamelodi Sundowns had endured pressure, VAR checks, a missed penalty against them, a red card in their technical area, and a relentless home crowd, but they held firm.
The final score on the night: 1–1. The final score on aggregate: 2–1 to Sundowns.
And with that, the South African side complete a historic continental triumph, navigating one of the most dramatic finals in recent memory to lift the CAF Champions League crown in Rabat.
Photo: Abdelmjid Rizkou/Gallo Images
