Mamelodi Sundowns Left Scratching Heads as Al Hilal Coach Breaks Silence on Draw With 10 Men

Al Hilal SC head coach Laurențiu Reghecampf expressed his satisfaction after his team secured a valuable point on the road against Mamelodi Sundowns in a Group C clash last weekend.

The Sudanese club fought to a 2-2 draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, finishing the match with ten men.

Al Hilal took an early lead when Abdelrazig Omer Taha found the net just 15 minutes into the game. However, Mamelodi Sundowns responded ten minutes later, with Arthur de Oliveira Sales levelling the score.

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The home side went ahead in the second half through a Teboho Mokoena goal in the 64th minute. But Taha struck again for Al Hilal, equalising and ensuring his team left with a point.

The visitors' resilience was tested late in the game when substitute Emmanuel Flomo received a straight red card for an elbow.

"I think it’s a good result for us," Reghecampf stated after the match. "We didn’t keep well in defence; small mistakes led to their first goal. We didn't take advantage after taking the lead, so I’m happy with the 2-2 draw because Sundowns fought back."

The coach emphasised the quality of both teams, adding, "You must understand Sundowns and Al Hilal are the two best teams in the group. Now we must prepare well for when we host Mamelodi Sundowns on January 30th."

The result leaves Al Hilal and Mamelodi Sundowns tied at the top of Group C with five points each after three matches. St. Eloi Lupopo follows with four points, while MC Alger has one.

In other continental action last week, fellow CECAFA representatives Young Africans SC and Simba SC both suffered away losses.

In Group B, Young Africans SC fell 2-0 to Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Meanwhile, in Group D, Simba SC were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Esperance at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis.