Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a goalless draw by Maniema Union in the first half of their CAF Champions League group-stage opener, despite dominating possession and pressure throughout the first 45 minutes. The South African side entered the match as heavy favorites, but their attack struggled to find the breakthrough, finishing the first half with 83% possession and several attempts on goal, all of which were unsuccessful.
Maniema Union, on the other hand, found themselves largely defending, with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams facing little action in the Sundowns’ half.
The Congolese side attempted two shots, neither of which troubled the goalkeeper.
Sundowns’ defense remained solid, with their backline rarely tested by the visitors’ counter-attacks.
Despite their dominance, Sundowns were unable to convert their possession into goals, leaving the score level at 0-0 as they head into the second half.
The South African team will be eager to adjust their strategy in the second half to break down Maniema Union’s defensive setup and avoid leaving the door open for any surprise results.
Meanwhile, Maniema Union will look to build on their defensive resilience and attempt to steal a point in Pretoria, though they will need to show more attacking intent if they are to cause an upset.
The second half promises to be pivotal, with Sundowns hoping to gain an early advantage and assert control over the match, while Maniema Union will need to maintain their strong defensive shape if they are to hold off the home side’s attacking threats.
