Sundowns begin Austria tour with draw against Hertha Berlin after Adams tragedy

Mamelodi Sundowns opened their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw against Hertha Berlin in Austria on Tuesday evening, barely a week after the death of midfielder Jayden Adams forced the South African champions to delay their tour.

The CAF Champions League winners, embarking on preparations for what is expected to be another hectic season, were held by the German second-tier side as both clubs continued their build-up to 2026-27.

Sundowns had postponed their originally scheduled friendly against Red Bull Salzburg on 12 July following the “unfortunate passing” of Adams last week, and only began their European tour with this fixture.

Van Wyk scores on Sundowns debut

New signing Antonio van Wyk was handed a start by head coach Miguel Cardoso and capped his first appearance for the club with a goal.

Van Wyk lined up alongside Bennet Mokoena, who scored in Sundowns’ impressive win over RB Leipzig at the end of last season, as Cardoso blended new arrivals with established names.

Hertha, who compete in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga, arrived in Austria in strong form after recording pre-season victories over Lokomotive Leipzig, Lichtenberg and Frohnauer.

The Berlin club carried that momentum into the first half and were rewarded when they took the lead six minutes before the interval.

Hertha strike first through Jensen

Hertha went in front in the 39th minute through Leon Jensen, who capitalised on hesitant defending from Sundowns.

An inviting ball was delivered into the six-yard box and, after the South African side failed to clear, Jensen met it with a close-range volley to break the deadlock.

Sundowns, however, responded quickly and refused to allow the match to drift away from them before half-time.

Just minutes after falling behind, Cardoso’s team found an equaliser through Van Wyk, who seized on a rebound in the penalty area and finished from close range to level the scores and mark his Sundowns debut with a goal.

Stalemate after the break

Both sides made changes in the second half as they looked to build fitness and test squad depth, but neither could find a decisive second goal.

For Hertha, the draw brought an end to their winning streak in pre-season, while Sundowns began their Austrian schedule with a creditable result against European opposition.

Cardoso also used the game to reintroduce Cassius Mailula, bringing the forward on after the break. Mailula is back with Sundowns following his departure from Major League Soccer side Toronto FC at the end of last season.

The match, played in the shadow of Adams’ recent death, marked a tentative step back into competition for the South African champions as they try to balance mourning with preparation for the campaign ahead.

Champions League winners eye global stage

Sundowns face another demanding season after their continental success. Victory in the CAF Champions League has earned the Pretoria club a place in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, adding a global dimension to their schedule alongside domestic and African commitments.

The club will continue their pre-season programme in Austria with another high-profile friendly later this month.

Next match

Mamelodi Sundowns’ next fixture on their tour is scheduled for:

– 24 July – Mamelodi Sundowns v Al Hilal

The meeting with the Sudanese giants will provide another measure of Sundowns’ readiness as Cardoso fine-tunes his squad for a season in which they will be expected to defend their domestic dominance and compete on multiple fronts abroad.