Late Pyramids FC sucker punch, but not over yet for Mamelodi Sundowns in CAF Champions League final

Comment by MATSHELANE MAMABOLO at Loftus Versfeld

THEY walked around the pitch as though in a funeral procession.

Their heads bowed, and their hands hanging by their sides, Mamelodi Sundowns players were an epitome of a group in mourning.

Shell-shocked at having conceded the late equaliser by Walid El Karti, the South African champions clearly understood the meaning of their having conceded a goal to Pyramids FC on home soil in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The trophy that they seemed to have a hand on deep into injury time was snatched away from that within the wink of an eye.

Their traditional post-match salute of their fans was equally a sombre affair that they clearly would have rather not participated in.

But it is obligatory and they did it, and it too told the story of a team and a crowd that had seemingly seen a ghost.

Sundowns were looking good for a 1-0 win after Lucas Ribeiro Costa had given them the lead with a typical classy left footer from inside the box.

And as they managed to keep Pyramids at bay while often venturing into the final third and threatening to score a second, it appeared as though the Brazilians would make the trip up to Cairo in an advantageous position.

But football is fickle at the top, and against North African teams in particular – it is never over until the final whistle has been blasted.

A huge failing of South African football is the way the fans only get involved in the match when their team are doing well.

Let the opposition gain control and the home fans literally suffer with their team, sitting in silence and perhaps praying for a turnaround.

Ribeiro, having been earlier substituted to rapturous applause, stood up from the bench and turned towards the fans – cajoling them into cheering the team on.

Coach Miguel Cardoso and some players on the bench joined him, and Loftus broke into song.

Just before that, the stadium announcer – having already announced that there would be four minutes of time added on for stoppages – pleaded with the crowd not to run on to the pitch at the final whistle.

Victory seemed certain for Sundowns, and he clearly was anticipating an overflowing of emotions to have the delighted Masandawana to go on to the pitch and celebrate with their heroes – prematurely though that would have been, with the second leg still to come next Sunday night in Cairo.

He’d spoken too early because a Pyramids attack from the left side with about a minute to go ended with El Karti tapping in the goal that sent Loftus Versfeld into such silence, you’d have sworn you were at a funeral.

It was a sucker punch to the gut that would send even the strongest of boxers at least taking the standing-eight count, and Sundowns just did not want that.

And you saw it in the way they met the final whistle that the players and the entire stadium understood just how much of a blow this was.

They will probably recover from this in the next few days, and Cardoso is going to remind them of just how well they’ve done to get to this final – the Brazilians having won at Esperance and Al Ahly.

Surely they can do the same at Pyramids?

Contrast Sundowns’ reaction to that of Pyramids, though, and you further got the understanding of what the 1-1 score-line means.

The Egyptians celebrated with gusto, and even went down in thankful prayer at the end of the match, the Champions League rookies clearly confident that they will finish off the job in their own backyard – like they did in knocking Orlando Pirates out in the semi-final.

On the strength of this match, you have to agree that Pyramids are favourites to lift the new Champions League trophy.

But Sundowns are not completely out of it, and can still add that second star above their club crest.

Not that you’d have believed this from seeing them walking around the pitch at the final whistle, resembling a group doing a send off to a dearly departed one.