Mamelodi Sundowns’ topsy-turvy start to the season looked like taking another downward slide when they went down to a 31st-minute goal in the CAF Confederation Cup game against Cameroon’s Astres de Douala at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday night — but the Brazilians hit back and eventually edged home by a 2-1 margin.
A timely header by Surprise Moriri only two minutes after Douala scored gave Sundowns the equaliser, and the winning goal was scored by Benson Mhlongo in the 61st minute from a Josta Dladla cross.
Despite the return of Mbulelo Mabizela, Sundowns’ defence often looked shaky, with Brian Baloyi ill at ease and fumbling several balls.
It was from one such occasion that the opportunist Ossah scored for Douala when the Sundowns goalkeeper deflected an apparently innocuous shot to the feet of the grateful Cameroon player.
Sundowns have now won two home games in the round-robin stage of the Confederation Cup, but their prospects of qualifying for the final remain seriously dented by a 4-0 away defeat against SC Sfaxien of Tunisia. — Sapa