Mamelodi Sundowns made hard work of their 3-1 Caf Champions League win over Group A rivals ASEC Mimosas at Loftus Stadium in Tshwane on Friday evening.
The Brazilians dominated large parts of the clash, but were especially guilty of squandering several clear-cut chances before finally putting the game to bed in the second minute of stoppage time. Victory moves them three points clear at the top.
Mosa Lebusa opened the scoring for the hosts after just 10 minutes following a pin-point cross from Gaston Sirino who breezed past his marker before picking out the defender for an straightforward finish.
The former Ajax Cape Town captain went from hero to zero, though, five minutes later as he fouled Herve Diomande inside the area. The ASEC midfielder duly dusted himself off before powering an unstoppable penalty past the outstretched arms of Denis Onyango.
Lyle Laky came closest to changing the scoreboard once more before the break in the 24th minute, as his free-kick looked destined for the back of the net, before a timely intervention from Abdoul Cisse.
Sundowns were all over the Ivorians in the second stanza and after Laffor saw his effort brilliantly saved by Cissa and Lebohang Maboe guided his header onto the woodwork, Themba Zwane restored parity for the hosts in the 56th minute.
The midfielder netting his third goal in two games following a precise cross from Lyle Lakay.
Hlompho Kekana duly watched his rocket of a free-kick bruise the crossbar before Laffor and Gaston Sirino saw respective shots cleared off the line as the South Africans amped up the pressure.
At the other end of the pitch, Lebusa had to be alert in the 79th minute to clear from danger after Onyango failed to hold onto a powerful drive.
Emiliano Tade finally put the game to bed in the second minute of stoppage time to seal a well deserved win for the hosts. The Argentine striker latched onto a neat ball from Zwane before finishing with aplomb to mark his debut with a goal.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 3 (Lebusa 10′ Zwane 56′ Tade 90+2′)
ASEC Mimosas (1) 1 (Diomande 15′)
Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, Morena, Nascimento, Lebusa, Lakay, Kekana, Mabunda, Laffor (Tade 83′), Zwane, Maboe (Ngcongca 84′), Sirino.
ASEC Mimosas: Cisse; Angbandji, Sako, Coulibaly, Ouattara, Renardo Gonazo (Toure 66′), Ndao, Diomande, N’Tamon (Badie 60′), Yao (Tapsoba 61′), Bagate.
