Kenyan defender Brian Mandela featured the whole length as Mamelodi Sundowns played to a barren draw in their second Group A match in the CAF Champions League against Al-Merrikh.Despite the draw, Mamelodi Sundowns continue to lead the group with four points, with the other match between Al-Hilal Omduran and Al Ahly having ended in a barren draw on Friday.This was the fifth consecutive start for the Kenyan international since making a return earlier in the month, extending his clean sheet tally in those five matches to four.A hotly-contested encounter comes to a close in Cairo! The Brazilians keep a clean sheet and secure a point! 👆Al Merrikh 0️⃣➖0️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns#Sundowns #DownsLive #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/RmEgXC00JE— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 19, 2022 The match started on a high note, with both teams going for the opener but none of the two could find the back of the net at the end ot it all, with Sundowns having the better chances in the initial opening stages. The visitors were however dealt a blow with seven minutes to play in the first half as Erwin Saavedra came off injured and Thabiso Kutumela was brought to replace him.Upon resumption from the break, Lee Clark made the first change for Al-Merrikh, taking off Ahmed Adam, a defender, for Wagdi Alla, a more forward-minded midfielder as they intensified the search for an opener.⏱️ 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄!🇸🇩 @ElMerreikhClub 0-0 @Masandawana 🇿🇦An interesting game with the points shared after the final whistle.#TotalEnergiesCAFCL | #MSCMSFC pic.twitter.com/X92MroW7Cb— TotalEnergies CAFCL – TotalEnergies CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) February 19, 2022 Sundowns were dealt another blow for the final three minutes as defender Rushine De Reuck came off injured and his place taken by Grant Kekana as the two teams held on to the scoreless draw to full time.The South African team has a daunting task in their next match with another away match against Al Ahly next Saturday as they come up against their former coach Pitso Mosimane.In the other match played at the same time, Angolan side Atletico Petro de Luanda saw off Wydad Athletic Club 2-1 to ascend to the summit of Group D.Tiago Azulao scored the opener for the hosts 41 minutes in before Jalal Daoudi equalized at the stroke of the hour mark, with Adriano ‘Yano’ Belmiro grabbing all three points for the Angolan side nine minutes later.
