CAF Champions League final first-leg: Mamelodi Sundowns 3, Zamalek 0

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 15: Anthony Laffor celebrates his goal during the CAF Champions League final – 1st leg match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Zamalek at Lucas Moripe Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

MAMELODI Sundowns completed a footballing masterclass as they defeated Zamalek 3-0 in the CAF Champions League final first leg at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.

Goals from Anthony Laffor, Tebogo Langerman and Percy Tau have put The Brazilians in the driving seat heading to Alexandra for the second leg at the Borg El Arab Stadium next Sunday.

The hosts got off to a better start, keeping possession and maintaining pressure on the Zamalek defence.

The first real opportunity fell for captain Thabo Nthethe, who was picked out by Khama Billiat from a free-kick, but the defender’s header flashed just wide of Ahmed El-Shennawy’s far-post.

However, Downs’ pressure finally paid off when Hlompho Kekana found Anthony Laffor on the edge of the box with a great low pass, and the striker made no mistake to bang home after a good first touch.

The visitors then pushed for a quick response, but some good defensive work saw the likes of Shikabala and Ayman Hefny and Bassem Mosry failed to test Onyango.

Five minutes before half-time, Langerman added a second as his speculative cross-come-shot caught El-Shennawy off his line, with the ball sneaking into the net off the back-post.

Zamalek could have pulled one back when Hefny was allowed space inside the Sundowns box, but his shot sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

Tau extended the lead just seconds after the restart, when Dolly did well to pick him out in space and his shot from an acute angle beat El-Shennawy before Gamal turned the ball into his own net.

Downs were dealt in blow in the 55th minute, though, as Wayne Arendse was shown a soft yellow card for a foul on Morsy, meaning the defender will miss the second leg due to suspension. – Kickoff.com

Sundowns XI: Onyango, Langerman, Nthethe, Arendse (Soumahoro 70′), Mbekile, Kekana (T. Zwane 86′), Mabunda, Billiat (Modise 65′), Tau, Dolly, Laffor.

Subs: Mweene, S. Zwane, Modise, Mohomi, T. Zwane, Soumahoro, Madisha

Zamalek XI: Ahmed El-Shennawy (Elrehim 63′); Moruf Yusuf, Islam Gamal, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Tawfik ; Tarek Hamed, Ibrahim Salah, Ayman Hefny, Shikabala (Ramzy Khaled 56′), Stanley Ohawuchi; Bassem Morsi (Ahmed Fathi 75′).