Sundowns silence big-spending Al Ahli
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Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns silence big-spending Al Ahli
Sep 19, 2026 – 01:59 pm
By Kickoff writer
African champions Mamelodi Sundowns overcame Al Ahli 2-1 to advance to the next round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Saturday afternoon.
Teams: Mamelodi Sundowns v Al AhliResult: 2-1Scorers Santos (18, 78′)
Masandawana embarked on a global scale aided by their champions of Africa tag and came boosting a run of four wins from their last five matches, while the Saudi Arabian giants Al-Ahli entered having won just one of their last three matches in all competitions.
Sundowns endured a slow start but settled quickest and grabbed the lead in the 17th minute when Nuno Santos made a late run in the box and nodded in from Teboho Mokoena’s cross.
The lead was short-lived as the kings of Asia responded exactly a minute later after goalkeeper Ronwen Williams bundled a goal-bound shot from Firas Al-Buraikan over the goal-line to level it up in Tshwane.
Masandawana were close to going behind for the first time in the match moments thereafter through a curling shot by Francisco Trincao following a through pass by Ivan Toney, but the Portuguese went sent his effort wide of the mark.
New signing Thabang Matuludi looked for a dream debut five minutes to halftime with a low rasping shot outside the area after getting on the end of a loose ball, but Edouard Mendy got down and parried.
Masandawana made a substitution five minutes after the break with Grant Kekana limped off the ground following a strong challenge and had Malibongwe Khoza come on as his replacement.
The African champions remained on the ascendancy a little in the midway stage of the second half and grabbed a golden chance to go back in front with a point-blank effort by Khulumani Ndamane from a free-kick by Aubrey Modiba, but the effort went over.
Ahli succumbed to the wave of pressure and eventually regained the lead when a superb cross from the right by Matuludi picked out Santos to head in the bottom-corner and sealed a brace.
It became a one-way traffic as the Brazilians remained in control and looked to add a third with a first-time shot from a tight angle by substitute Bathusi Aubaas, but he was denied by Mendy.
The big-spending Saudi club probed the equaliser in a tense closing spell, but the Brazilians didn’t lose their shape and survived the pressure to advance to the Challenger Cup.