Supersub Peter Shalulile helped Mamelodi Sundowns snatch a dramatic CAF Champions League group victory on Saturday, as FAR Rabat and Pyramids secured quarter-finals locations.
Shalulile equalised, then pressured an personal aim in added time that gave South African outfit Sundowns a 2-1 win over Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa.
FAR Rabat clinched a last-eight spot after drawing 1-1 with fellow Moroccans Raja Casablanca within the different Group B conflict, that additionally included an personal aim.
Egyptian outfit Pyramids secured a top-two end in Group D with an added-time aim delivering a 1-0 win over Angolan workforce Sagrada Esperanca in Luanda.
Emam Ashour from defending champions Al Ahly scored a second-half hat-trick because the Egyptian giants got here from behind to win 3-1 in Group C in opposition to Stade Abidjan within the Ivory Coast.
Jephte Kitambala took the ball from the Maniema half earlier than beating goalkeeper Ronwen Williams at his close to submit to present Maniema a first-half lead in a matchday 5 conflict.
The Congolese retained the lead till veteran Namibian ahead Shalulile got here off the bench within the closing levels and had an instantaneous influence.
He levelled on 83 minutes with a close-range header and his strain led Exaucia Moanda to push the ball into his personal internet within the fifth further minute.
– Goalkeeper blunder –
FAR Rabat scored first in Meknes as veteran Raja goalkeeper Anas Zniti pushed a deflection from a teammate into his personal internet following a nook late within the first half.
Nawfel Zerhouni equalised for Raja on 77 minutes from a penalty, sending goalkeeper Ayoub el Khayati the incorrect means.
FAR have 9 factors, Sundowns eight, Raja 5 and eradicated Maniema three in what has proved essentially the most aggressive of the 4 mini-leagues
Sundowns host FAR subsequent Sunday and a draw will guarantee qualification. Nonetheless, if the Pretoria membership lose and Raja beat Maniema in Casablanca head-to-head information will resolve who advances.
Marwan Hamdy scored his first aim of the Champions League marketing campaign deep in added time to take expensively assembled Pyramids into the knockout stage for the primary time.
Tunisian membership Esperance — runners-up to Ahly final season — will be a part of Pyramids in the event that they defeat winless Malian facet Djoliba in Bamako on Sunday.
Ahly bounced again after surrendering a Champions League file 27-match unbeaten run final weekend to sentence Stade to a fourth loss in 5 matches.
Ashour scored from a tap-in, a header and a close-range shot after Saint-Jean Kore had given the Ivorians a shock lead at half-time.
If Orlando Pirates beat Algerian guests Chabab Belouizdad in Soweto on Sunday, the South African facet and Ahly will safe last-eight locations.
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