Sundowns defies the odds
By Herrold Lamola (@Lamola_eitcHDee)
History was against Mamelodi Sundowns when they took on Egyptian giants Zamalek at Lucas 'Masterpieces' Moripe stadium in Atteredgeville on Saturday afternoon in a much anticipated Caf Champions League first leg of the two legged final.
Although statistics were in favour of the visitors, football is not a game that is played on paper. It is very rare on the history of Caf Champions League to defeat a team in the group stages of the tournament and do it again in the finals. Sundowns made a double against Zamelek in the group stages with a 2-1 away and 1-0 home victories over the White Knights but that didn't guarantee them a win on Saturday in the final.
In the past the teams that have emerged victorious in the group stages have not manage to carry their group stages success to the finals. One can confidently say plenty of the group successful teams choked in the finals.
Sundowns overcame all the obstacles they have met in the group stages of the tournament. Sundowns was by far the minnows in group B alongside Zamalek, Enyimba and ES Setif. A combined nine CAF Champions League titles were held by their mighty opponents but Sundowns managed to top the pack.
Sundowns is the first South African side to defeat an Egyptian side twice in a two legged encounter. Sundowns qualified for the semi-finals of the competition with a game to spare.
#AgainstAllOdds
Despite the Premier Soccer League (PSL) not helping Sundowns with their congested fixture schedule, the defending domestic league champions have pulled through and are now on the verge of a continental triumph.
Sundowns has never had a pre-season campaign as they were called upon to honour a Caf Champions League group stages fixtures following the elimination of AS Vita Club of DRC whom are alleged of fielding an ineligible player.
1: Sundowns are the first SA team to score more than two goals in any leg of a caf cl final.
2: This was the first time a SA team defeated an Egyptian team in any leg of a CAF CL Final, previously they drew two games and lost two.
3: It is the second time a SA team keeps a clean sheet in any leg of a CAFCL final something SA clubs had failed to do five times previously.
Sacrifices made:
The team had to cancel all their off-season trips and quality time with their families.
Pitso Mosimane has cancelled his dream trip to the 'Big Apple' for Africa and he is now reaping the results of his selflessness.
Teams that have met at group stage and final of Caf:
2003 Group stage:
Ismaily 6-1 Enyimba
Enyimba 4-2 Ismaily
2003 Final:
Enyimba 2-0 Ismaily
Ismaily 1-0 Enyimba
2003 Group Stage:
Etoile du Sahel 1-0 Enyimba
Enyimba 1-1 Etoile du Sahel
2003 Final:
Etoile 2- 1 Enyimba
Enyimba 2-1 Etoile
(Enyimba won on penalties)
2006 Group Stage:
Al Ahly 2-1 CS Sfaxien
Sfaxien 1-0 Al Ahly
Final
Al Ahly 1-1 Sfaxien
Sfaxien 0-1 Ahly
2009 Group Stages:
Mazembe 2-0 Heartland
Heartland 2-0 Mazembe
Final
Heartland 2-1 Mazembe
Mazembe 1-0 Heartland
(Mazembe won on away goals)
2010 Group Stage:
Mazembe 2-1 Esperance
Esperance 3-0 Mazembe
Final
Mazembe 5-0 Esperance
Esperance 1-1 Mazembe
2011 Group Stages:
Wydad Casablanca 2-2 Esperance
Esperance 0-0 Wydad
Final
Wydad 0-0 Esperance
Esperance 1-0 Wydad
2013 Group Stages:
Ahly 0-3 Orlando Pirates
Pirates 0-0 Ahly
Final
Pirates 1-1 Ahly
Ahly 2-0 Pirates
2016 Group Stages:
Zamalek 1-2 Sundowns
Sundowns 1-0 Zamalek
Final
Sundowns 3-0 Zamalek
Second leg to be played on Saturday 21st October in Egypt.
The only team to ever overturned a 3-0 deficit in the CAF Champions League final is the Algerian side Mouloudia Alger in 1976 before winning in penalties.
History was against Mamelodi Sundowns when they took on Egyptian giants Zamalek at Lucas 'Masterpieces' Moripe stadium in Atteredgeville on Saturday afternoon in a much anticipated Caf Champions League first leg of the two legged final.
Although statistics were in favour of the visitors, football is not a game that is played on paper. It is very rare on the history of Caf Champions League to defeat a team in the group stages of the tournament and do it again in the finals. Sundowns made a double against Zamelek in the group stages with a 2-1 away and 1-0 home victories over the White Knights but that didn't guarantee them a win on Saturday in the final.
In the past the teams that have emerged victorious in the group stages have not manage to carry their group stages success to the finals. One can confidently say plenty of the group successful teams choked in the finals.
Sundowns overcame all the obstacles they have met in the group stages of the tournament. Sundowns was by far the minnows in group B alongside Zamalek, Enyimba and ES Setif. A combined nine CAF Champions League titles were held by their mighty opponents but Sundowns managed to top the pack.
Sundowns is the first South African side to defeat an Egyptian side twice in a two legged encounter. Sundowns qualified for the semi-finals of the competition with a game to spare.
#AgainstAllOdds
Despite the Premier Soccer League (PSL) not helping Sundowns with their congested fixture schedule, the defending domestic league champions have pulled through and are now on the verge of a continental triumph.
Sundowns has never had a pre-season campaign as they were called upon to honour a Caf Champions League group stages fixtures following the elimination of AS Vita Club of DRC whom are alleged of fielding an ineligible player.
1: Sundowns are the first SA team to score more than two goals in any leg of a caf cl final.
2: This was the first time a SA team defeated an Egyptian team in any leg of a CAF CL Final, previously they drew two games and lost two.
3: It is the second time a SA team keeps a clean sheet in any leg of a CAFCL final something SA clubs had failed to do five times previously.
Sacrifices made:
The team had to cancel all their off-season trips and quality time with their families.
Pitso Mosimane has cancelled his dream trip to the 'Big Apple' for Africa and he is now reaping the results of his selflessness.
Teams that have met at group stage and final of Caf:
2003 Group stage:
Ismaily 6-1 Enyimba
Enyimba 4-2 Ismaily
2003 Final:
Enyimba 2-0 Ismaily
Ismaily 1-0 Enyimba
2003 Group Stage:
Etoile du Sahel 1-0 Enyimba
Enyimba 1-1 Etoile du Sahel
2003 Final:
Etoile 2- 1 Enyimba
Enyimba 2-1 Etoile
(Enyimba won on penalties)
2006 Group Stage:
Al Ahly 2-1 CS Sfaxien
Sfaxien 1-0 Al Ahly
Final
Al Ahly 1-1 Sfaxien
Sfaxien 0-1 Ahly
2009 Group Stages:
Mazembe 2-0 Heartland
Heartland 2-0 Mazembe
Final
Heartland 2-1 Mazembe
Mazembe 1-0 Heartland
(Mazembe won on away goals)
2010 Group Stage:
Mazembe 2-1 Esperance
Esperance 3-0 Mazembe
Final
Mazembe 5-0 Esperance
Esperance 1-1 Mazembe
2011 Group Stages:
Wydad Casablanca 2-2 Esperance
Esperance 0-0 Wydad
Final
Wydad 0-0 Esperance
Esperance 1-0 Wydad
2013 Group Stages:
Ahly 0-3 Orlando Pirates
Pirates 0-0 Ahly
Final
Pirates 1-1 Ahly
Ahly 2-0 Pirates
2016 Group Stages:
Zamalek 1-2 Sundowns
Sundowns 1-0 Zamalek
Final
Sundowns 3-0 Zamalek
Second leg to be played on Saturday 21st October in Egypt.
The only team to ever overturned a 3-0 deficit in the CAF Champions League final is the Algerian side Mouloudia Alger in 1976 before winning in penalties.
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