South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns won their second African Champions League title as a 1-1 draw away against AS FAR proved enough to clinch a 2-1 aggregate victory in the final.
Sundowns took a 1-0 lead into the second leg in Rabat thanks to Aubrey Modiba’s strike last Sunday, but Mohamed Hrimat levelled the tie five minutes before half-time from the penalty spot after Divine Lunga had fouled Reda Slim.
However, in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time, Teboho Mokoena rattled a brilliant half-volley in off the underside of the bar to equalise on the night and restore his side’s advantage on aggregate.
With away goals still used in the African Champions League, the midfielder’s strike crucially left Moroccans AS FAR needing two more goals to lift the trophy.
The hosts had a glorious opportunity to revive their hopes in the 77th minute after being awarded another penalty, yet Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams brilliantly saved Hrimat’s second attempt from 12 yards.
Jalal-Eddine El Khfiyef fired over late on for AS FAR and Sundowns saw out eight minutes of added time to claim their first continental title since their maiden triumph in 2016.
The South Africans, beaten in the final by Egyptian outfit Pyramids last season, pick up a record $6m (£4.49m) in prize money as well as booking a place at the 2029 Fifa Club World Cup.
Home crowd disappointed
The vast majority of a near-capacity crowd at the 70,000-seat Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium were hoping to see AS FAR win African football’s top club honour for the first time since 1985, and they created an intimidating atmosphere for Sundowns in the early stages.
Yet there were few clear sights at goal before Somalian referee Omar Artan was sent to his pitch-side monitor by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and he eventually decided Sundowns left-back Lunga had caught winger Slim on the back of his leg while attempting a clearance.
Hrimat calmly converted, sending Williams the wrong way, but Sundowns brilliantly equalised before the break when Brayan Leon’s cross was flicked on by Tashreeq Matthews and Mokoena flashed in a right-footed effort from 15 yards.
The goal subdued the home fans until AS FAR were presented with an opportunity to retake the lead on the night when they were awarded a second penalty.
That, once again, came following a VAR review after Williams spilled a low shot from Ahmed Hammoudan and then brought down Youssef El Fahli as he attempted to gather the loose ball.
South Africa international Williams, who saved four penalties in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final shootout against Cape Verde, redeemed himself as he dived to his left and managed to divert Hrimat’s attempt over the bar with his left arm.
His save sapped the energy out of AS FAR and their supporters slowly departed in the closing stages, leaving Sundowns to lift the trophy in a near-empty stadium bowl.
Their victory came a day after Miguel Cardoso’s side missed out on the domestic title to Orlando Pirates, bringing an end to their eight-year reign as champions of South Africa.