Mokoena screamer seals CAF Champions League glory for Sundowns in Morocco

Aubrey Modiba had given the Brazilians a 1-0 advantage from the first leg with an excellent first-half free-kick but missed this game through injury.

Divine Lunga was called up to replace Modiba and was at fault for the opening goal, as he conceded a penalty that Mohamed Hrimat converted for AS FAR on 40 minutes.

However, Downs responded impressively, with Teboho Mokoena firing home the all-important equaliser in the fifth minute of first-half injury time.

Ronwen Williams then conceded a late penalty but redeemed himself by making a strong save.

The action had swung from end to end in the opening exchanges, with both goalkeepers getting early touches on the ball.

There were a few misplaced passes from both sides after a frenetic start in front of a boisterous home crowd.

A neat Kutlwano Letlhaku pass directed at Brayan Leon was well cut out by AS FAR defender Fallou Mendy, while Williams raced off his line to clear the danger after a good long ball forward from Ahmed Hammoudan.

There was a nervy moment just before the 10-minute mark as a To Carneiro delivery from the left needed clearing, before play was stopped following a collision between Lunga and FAR captain Mohamed Hrimat. The Sundowns man was lucky to escape without a caution for arriving late in the challenge.

Mokoena had to be alert to cut out another dangerous low delivery from the left-hand side by Carneiro.

Zakaria Hadraf then went down in the box looking for a penalty on 15 minutes, but the referee waved play on before FAR captain Hrimat sliced his effort wide from the edge of the area after a good cutback from Khalid Ait Ouarkhane.

Hrimat was cautioned for stopping a quick Downs attack after pulling back Mokoena by the jersey, but the visitors failed to get the ball into the box to threaten Ahmed Tagnaouti in goal.

Letlhaku finally gave Ahmed Tagnaouti some work to do with a shot from range after being afforded time and space to drive forward, while Tashreeq Matthews fired wide of the target after another promising attack.

Youssef Alfahli went down in the box on 25 minutes after a challenge from Khuliso Mudau but was fortunate not to be booked for diving during a strong spell from the home side that kept Sundowns pinned back in their own half.

Jayden Adams had to be alert to head clear a dangerous cross from the left, while Williams got to the ball ahead of Slim from a curling delivery into the box by Hadraf.

The home side appealed for another penalty on 34 minutes after Lunga inadvertently caught Slim in the back while attempting to clear the ball, and after a VAR review, a spot-kick was awarded.

Hrimat stepped up to send Williams the wrong way and slot the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net with 40 minutes on the clock.

Williams got behind a cross from Reda Slim as the intensity of the match continued to rise, with AS FAR in the ascendancy. Hadraf then sliced a shot wide from the edge of the area after a Matthews pass intended for Leon was slightly overhit.

Tagnaouti soon after made an excellent save to prevent Leon from flicking a good Lunga delivery into the back of the net.

Sundowns looked slightly cagey after conceding but recovered impressively to regain the lead deep into stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Leon’s cross from the right was flicked on by Matthews, and Mokoena powered his shot into the back of the net to calm the nerves and give Sundowns momentum heading into the second half.

Chilean midfielder Marcelo Allende was introduced at half-time for Letlhaku in a tactical change by Downs coach Miguel Cardoso.

It was also confirmed at half-time that reserve goalkeeper Denis Onyango had been shown a red card.

Slim won the first corner of the second half off Cupido, but Matthews calmly cleared the danger.

Lunga’s curled pass from the left was just ahead of Leon, while some over-elaborate defending from Mudau allowed AS FAR to regain possession. However, Slim failed to trouble Williams with his effort from distance.

Hadraf was fortunate not to receive his marching orders for a head lunge towards Adama after going down under a strong challenge from the South African. Both players were shown yellow cards for their indiscretion.

Nuno Santos was on hand to clear as Hrimat looked to get a shot away inside the Sundowns penalty area.

Lunga made up for his first-half error with some excellent defending to keep Slim quiet on the left flank, while Adams threw his body in the way of a goal-bound Alfahli shot before the hour mark.

Arthur Sales was introduced for Santos on 64 minutes as last season’s CAF Champions League runners-up looked to gain a firmer grip on the tie.

Both sides struggled to retain possession in key areas, with Sundowns content to absorb pressure as AS FAR searched for the goal needed to stay alive in the contest.

Williams then spilled a Hammoudan shot before seemingly bringing down Alfahli while attempting to recover the ball. VAR reviewed the incident and a second penalty was awarded to the home side.

Hrimat stepped up again, but this time Williams produced a brilliant save low to his left to push the ball over the crossbar.

There was some full-blooded defending from Sundowns as they desperately fought to preserve their lead during the final 10 minutes.

AS FAR introduced Hammoudan for Bouriga as FAR coach Alexandre Santos searched for a way back into the game, while Sundowns brought on Grant Kekana and Lebo Mothiba for Matthews and Leon in a more defensive approach.

Sales teed up Adams inside the area after a strong run forward, but his shot was poked wide of the target.

Mothiba scored late on, but his goal was ruled out for offside. AS FAR then created one final opportunity, but Carneiro could not direct his header on target, while substitute Jalal El Khfiyef somehow fired over from close range when it seemed easier to score.

Sundowns endured an agonising eight minutes of injury time but ultimately saw out the match before celebrating their second-ever CAF Champions League triumph.