Pyramids made a dramatic late equalizer during stoppage time, disrupting the celebration for Mamelodi Sundowns and leaving the African Champions League final delicately balanced at 1-1 following the first leg in Pretoria.
The home team took the lead at a packed Loftus Versfeld stadium just eight minutes into the second half, with striker Lucas Ribeiro capitalizing on a rebound to score from just outside the six-yard box.
Despite dominating the latter part of the game, Sundowns fans were gearing up to celebrate what they believed would be a crucial victory. However, in the dying moments, Walid El Karti connected with a cross from Mohanad Lasheen, sending a header past Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in the 94th minute.
With the away goals rule still in play for this tournament, Pyramids’ late goal could be pivotal for the first-time finalists, potentially leading them to lift the newly designed Champions League trophy and claim a $4 million prize.
Founded in 2008, Pyramids has rapidly ascended to become one of Egypt’s leading clubs since being acquired by Saudi investors in 2018. Sundowns, who are preparing for FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup next month, are in pursuit of their second continental title and have reached the final for the first time since their victory in 2016.
The two teams will clash again at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday, June 1, at 17:00 GMT. Sundowns advanced to the final by eliminating the record 12-time champions Al Ahly on away goals, while Pyramids defeated their local rivals Orlando Pirates 3-2 on aggregate.
The first half was entertaining, played in favorable weather, with Sundowns controlling possession. However, it was Pyramids that created three significant scoring opportunities. Fiston Mayele, the competition’s joint-top scorer this season, missed the first two chances and was flagged offside for the third, failing to test Williams.
In the second half, Pyramids seemed to lose their composure, retreating and struggling to maintain possession, while Sundowns looked to capitalize. Ahmed Atef received a yellow card for time-wasting shortly after the half began, indicating that Krunoslav Jurcic’s side was content to aim for a draw.
Ribeiro eventually found the net, but Sundowns couldn’t extend their lead. Despite being surrounded by a sea of yellow and lacking home support, Pyramids’ El Karti provided a last-minute twist.
Sundowns are a dominant force in South African football, having recently secured a record eighth consecutive domestic title, but they face a challenging second leg. While Pyramids may not have the extensive support enjoyed by their Cairo rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek, Juric’s team hopes to leverage the warm evening conditions in North Africa to establish themselves as a prominent player in continental football.
