Mamelodi Sundowns were eliminated from the African Confederation Cup race after crashing 3-1 to Tout Puissant Mazembe Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Needing maximum points to retain a realistic chance of overtaking Group A leaders Club Sportif Sfaxien of Tunisia, Sundowns fell behind after seven minutes and trailed by three goals midway through the second half.
Leading Confederation Cup scorer Mputu Mabi scored his eighth goal of the competition to give Mazembe the lead at a packed Kenya Stadium in the southern city of Lubumbashi.
Patou ”Papy” Kabangu added a second goal with 37 minutes gone and Alain Kaluyitukadioko converted a 58th-minute penalty to end the match as a contest at a venue where Sundowns drew 0-0 with Mazembe in the 2001 Champions League.
Lungisani Ndlela snatched a consolation goal five minutes from full-time for Sundowns, who lacked injured midfielders Brent Carelse, Surprise Moriri and Esrom Nyandoro.
It was the third consecutive away loss for Sundowns in the pool phase after a 4-0 drubbing from Sfaxien and a controversial 1-0 loss to Astres Douala of Cameroon with the South Africans criticising the penalty winner.
Sfaxien overcame Astres 3-0 in the Mediterraean city of Sfax on Saturday via goals from Blaise ”Lelo” Mbele, Blaise Kouassi and Hamza Younes to remain top of the standings with 10 points, one more than Mazembe.
Dolphin hopes of topping Group B were dealt a serious blow after they could only draw 0-0 against Kwara United in a dour all-Nigeria clash that produced few scoring chances at Township Stadium in the central town of Ilorin.
Leaders Al-Merreikh of Sudan host third-placed Ismailia of Egypt in Omdurman late on Sunday and a win for the local club will virtually seal a place in the two-leg final during November. ‒ Sapa-AFP