Mamelodi Sundowns reach CA Champions League quarter-final, ending Rhulani Mokwena’s campaign

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS (1) (2)

Leone 6’, 63’

MC ALGER                       (0) (0)

Love was in the air between Miguel Cardoso and Masandawana – the duo combining perfectly on Valentine’s Day to reach the CAF Champions League knockout stage at the expense of former partner Rulani Mokwena.

Mamelodi Sundowns achieved this feat by beating MC Alger 2-0 in their final continental group-stage match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, finishing second in Group C after a topsy-turvy campaign.

Their victory wasn’t pretty, but it was professional. They sucked the life out of Mokwena and his team by refusing to engage in on-field theatrics. Moreover, they adopted a calculated game model built on structured build-up play – a system ironically forged by Mokwena during his reign at the club.

In four meetings now, there was still no love lost between Mokwena and Cardoso as the latter continued to crack the whip on his predecessor, beating him in three matches, while one ended in a draw.

A gloomy sky had covered the nation’s capital, offering a fitting theme for this day of lovers. But in this context, a dark day loomed for South Africa’s beloved Mokwena, whose continental campaign was handed a bouquet of funeral flowers during his homecoming.

Mokwena’s team lost courtesy of Brayan Leon’s sixth- and 63rd-minute goals, ensuring they finished third in Group C with seven points – two behind the Brazilians, who are runners-up behind Al Hilal.

While this spectacle was ultimately decided on the pitch, off-pitch tensions were also high, with Mokwena accused of receiving internal training information and footage from the Brazilians’ analyst Mario Masha, who has since been suspended pending an internal commission.

Mokwena, during his pre-match press conference, denied the allegations, saying his backroom staff prepared for the match through hard work and thorough analysis of their opponents — their passion for the game uncompromised.

But before they could even rubber-stamp their authority, Sundowns found the breakthrough. Arthur Sales stole the ball from Larbi Tabti before firing a hard, low shot which Alexis Guendouz parried into the path of Leon, who duly tapped home.

A cacophony of noise filled Loftus, with Mokwena hurting where he once received love. Unlike the scribe of “love letters” to his players, he could only pull out a small piece of paper and take notes for himself.

Sundowns frustrated him further, reminding him of what he once had. They rotated the ball with calm and control, exploiting pockets of space – a system that has somewhat been foreign under Cardoso, whose team has been more focused on conjuring results.

Threatened by Sundowns’ possession play, Alger resorted to aggression. That effectively blew out the candles of their romantic dinner, as referee Lominson Todihajaniaina frequently stopped play.

Teboho Mokoena came close to adding to Sundowns’ advantage when he struck the crossbar before the break, but Leone’s goal was enough to ensure they went into half-time in control of their destiny.

Tensions and scuffles continued en route down the tunnel, requiring the intervention of club and match officials to separate the players.

In search of an advantage – and an equaliser – the two teams went at each other in the second half. But it was Cardoso’s trump card, Marcelo Allende, who tilted the game decisively in favour of the hosts. A smooth passage of build-up play tore through Alger’s defence – and Mokwena’s heart – as Leon tapped home his second of the night.

With his team in control and doing little wrong in front of the Masandawana faithful, Cardoso burst with joy, clumsily taking a jibe in front of Alger’s dugout, which resulted in chaos and scuffles between the two benches.

Adored by most Masandawana supporters, club captain Themba Zwane entered the fray to a standing ovation. He did not disappoint, calmly controlling proceedings and steering his side into the last eight of the competition for the eighth consecutive season.

The festivities ended with Cardoso buying himself some time at the helm. However, the love-hate relationship between him and Masandawana is set to continue should he lose to Orlando Pirates in a Betway Premiership top-of-the-table clash at FNB Stadium on Wednesday – a match that could decide the state of the football nation.