Big Concern For Sundowns v AS FAR In Final 2nd-Leg?

Mamelodi Sundowns could rue not utilising their chances in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final against AS FAR, as their away form in the knockout stages of this tournament is an area of concern.

Sundowns could only secure a 1-0 win over AS FAR in the first-leg courtesy of Aubrey Modiba's first-half free-kick at Loftus Versfeld Stadium this past Sunday.

Check Out: Mokoena Explains How Sundowns Exposed AS FAR

However, there was a general feeling among the Masandawana supporters and perhaps even the neutral ones that they should have won by a slightly bigger margin, considering the countless chances they had, which saw Teboho Mokoena hitting the post and Brayan Leon squandering at least three clear-cut opportunities.

It is traditionally the case that home sides in the CAF Champions League normally have the upper hand, by hook or by crook and given The Brazilians' form playing away on the continent, Miguel Cardoso's charges would need to play the game of their lives to deliver the second title and the second star on the badge for the Tshwane giants.

In the last three seasons, in the knockout stages of the continent's premier tournament, Sundowns have not scored more than 2 goals while playing away.

Masandawana will be familiar with the opposition using their home ground advantage to the maximum in this competition, as in the quarterfinals they lost 2-0 to Stade Malien in the second-leg, playing with ten men in the closing stages, but were saved by their 3-0 win in the first-leg and progressed 3-2 on aggregate.

Last season, Sundowns faced Esperance, where they struggled to score away in a goalless draw, in the quarter-final second-leg and went through 1-0 on aggregate after a 1-0 win in the first-leg.

One goal against Al Ahly in the semi-final away leg was enough to see them through on the away goal rule, but the Tshwane giants' one goal in the final second-leg against Pyramids was not enough, as they lost 2-1 and 3-2 on aggregate.

Check Out: Cardoso Reveals Sundowns’ Mindset For CAF Final

In the 2023/24 campaign, Sundowns could not score against Young Africans away in the quarter-final first-leg and lost 1-0 to Esperance away in the semi-finals and ultimately bowed out.