Mamelodi Sundowns began their CAF Champions League group stage campaign with a 1-0 win over Al Hilal Omdurmanon Saturday afternoon.
Masandawnana were without captain Themba Zwane through injury, but welcomed back Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau, Marcelo Allende and Cassius Mailula.
Not a lot separated the Brazilians and their counterparts in the earlier stages before a snap shot from close-range by Neo Maema forced goalkeeper Ali Abu Eshrein to make a save.
Sundowns pushed again and were rewarded midway in the first half when Abu Eshrein parried Maema's rasping shot back into play and Mailula pounced to tap in from point-blank range.
The confidence from the host remained high and looked for a second but were unable to breakthrough despite the efforts by Peter Shalulile, Maema and Teboho Mokoena.
Hilal brought on Ahmed Yahya Saddig for Abdul Jeleel Ajagun before Mohamed El Tayeb replaced Anas Saeed at the break, whereas Masandawana made no changes.
Masandawna maintained their dominance and threatened a second off Mokoena's low free-kick from the edge of the area, but Abu Eshrein parried away.
The DStv Premiership champions got chances thereafter to add onto their tally, but were undone by mis-timed final balls and missed chances overall.
Hilal very nearly drew level inside the last 15 minutes after a move down the left resulted in a cutback for substitute El Tayeb to unleash from close-range, but Williams parried.
Masandawna added reinforcements from the bench in the last ten minutes and had Gift Motupa come on for Shalulile.
The Sudanese giants finished the match with ten players in the final five minutes after Abdelrazig Abaker Abdalla saw red due to a second bookable offence.
Sundowns managed the remaining minutes and secured the win to start their group stage campaign on a positive note.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Modiba, Mvala, Kekana, Mokoena, Mkhulise, Allende, Maema, Shalulile, Mailula
Subs: Pieterse, Lebusa, Ngobeni, Morena, Jali, Kutumela, Zungu, Motupa, Ralani
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