IDEAL START FOR DOWNS
Arendse finds late winner as Enyimba fall
CRISIS? What crisis?
The Mamelodi Sundowns house may not seem like it’s in order with the future of various players up in the air, but they are still getting the job done on the pitch in the CAF Champions League group stages.
In a week where they lost captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele to Kaizer Chiefs, Sundowns edged Nigerian giants Enyimba 2-1 in a hard-fought victory here last night, thanks to defender Wayne Arendse’s 79th minute winner.
It was not pretty from Sundowns, but that’s what you need in Champions League football at times – to win matches even when you are not playing well. Enyimba, who were beaten 1-0 by Zamalek in their opening Group B match, made a better start than the hosts, causing a lot of problems with their big striker Ifeanyi Onuigbo.
The big striker was first to test Wayne Sandilands in the hosts’ goal with a fierce shot from range, but the goalkeeper was up to the challenge.
Onuigbo had his header from a corner kick, just a couple of minutes later, go wide of goal.
It was clear that Sundowns needed to stop the supply to Onuigbo and once they did that, they were able to get forward a bit more. After weathering the early storm, Sundowns went ahead with a goal from Leonardo Castro, who had been isolated up front before getting the goal.
It was a typical Castro finish from range, the Colombian taking full advantage of a loose ball in the area after Keagan Dolly delivered a cross from the left flank.
Determined not to lose two matches in a row, Enyimba started the second period the same way they did the first, putting a lot of pressure on the hosts’ defence.
The pressure seemed like it was becoming too much as right back Asavela Mbekile unnecessarily conceded a corner kick, from which Enyimba profited through Ojo Oluwadamilare’s great volley.
But Arendse had the final say with a winner 11 minutes from time.