This is what R50M can do for you! Leon sends Mokwena home as Cardoso’s Sundowns smile to CAF CL quarters

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This is what R50M can do for you! Leon sends Mokwena home as Cardoso’s Sundowns smile to CAF CL quarters

Mamelodi Sundowns‘ Miguel Cardoso eased pressure at the club after a 2-0 win over old foe Rhulani Mokwena-led MC Alger on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium to finish second in Group C of the CAF Champions League.

This promised to be a tough match from the start as both teams needed a positive result to make the quarter-final of the prestigious continental annual club competition.

Masandawana had managed to take a point in Algeria when the two sides had initially met prior to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) break.

Leon fires Sundowns in front

It took Sundowns just three minutes to make their first attempt following a good start amid roars and cheers from the crowd. However, Brayan Leon couldn’t hit the target from 20 yards out.

Five minutes later, the Colombian made it right; defensive lapses allowed Arthur Sales to steal the ball before forcing the goalkeeper into a fine save. Unfortunately for the custodian, the rebound kindly fell on Leon, who made no mistake from close range.

Masandawana were almost punished in the 24th minute owing to their poor marking from a corner kick. It was played in but the Yakoub Gassi couldn’t get the right touch.

It was Sundowns who ended the first half on a high with Teboho Mokoena coming closest in the 45th minute. However, the Bafana Bafana international was denied by the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.

Leon at it again!

The People’s Club had a good start after the break, hoping to get an equaliser to get into the second position in Group C. In the 50th minute, Williams had to be alert to deal with the danger posed by the North African outfit.

It got worse for Mokwena’s men in the 63rd minute when they failed to deal with Masandawana’s build-up. A good ball to the left found Aubrey Modiba who played in a good cross and Leon forced it on target to make it 2-0.

The win for Sundowns took them to the quarter-final as they finished second in Group C, behind Al-Hilal Omdurman, who beat St Eloi Lupopo 1-0 in another game played simultaneously.

<!-- Author Start -->Willis Sob<!-- Author End -->

Willis Sob

Author

Willis Sob is an experienced journalist who has been in the game since 2009, covering major assignments around the continent.
His hunger for African football is unmatched, always getting the best angles and facts to feed the fans and quench their thirst.

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