Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile entered the game as a substitute, sparking a comeback that secured a 2-1 victory over AS Maniema Union in their CAF Champions League group stage match on Saturday.
Union were on the verge of their first-ever win in their inaugural group stage campaign, having drawn three and lost one of their opening four Group B matches
Going to the break, Maniema were hoping to secure a historic win after they rattled the back of the net through the big striker Japhte Kitambala.
His strike past CAF Goalkeeper of the Year Ronwen Williams, against the run of play, injected a dose of unexpected drama into the match.
This unexpected goal significantly altered the dynamic of the fixture, adding to the already challenging conditions of the boiling heat and artificial pitch at the Stade de Martyrs on Saturday afternoon.
Shalulile came in rescue of the Tshwane giants as it gradually seemed like they were going to suffer another CAF Champions League consecutively having been defeated by Raja Casablanca last week.
SHALULILE’S IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Introduced from the bench, Shalulile made an immediate impact, heading home the equalizer with his very first touch.
The drama continued deep into stoppage time, as Shalulile forced an own goal in the 96th minute, securing a dramatic late victory.
This thrilling win propels Sundowns into a crucial final group stage match against a Botola Pro side at Loftus Versfeld, where they will vie for top spot and potentially eliminate Raja Casablanca later this evening.
