Mamelodi Sundowns to played a goalless draw against Al-Merrikh SC in their second CAF Champions League group stage clash on Saturday afternoon.
Sundowns showed up without Pavol Safranko and Gift Motupa from their midweek clash against Baroka FC and handed starts to new signing Erwin Saavedra and Surprise Ralani.
The South African champions looked for a strong start after two minutes through a surging move down the right-side by Peter Shalulile and Themba Zwane, but the host cleared their lines.
Masandawana continued to see chances, none more an inviting one towards the midway phase where Khuliso Mudau stole possession and ran clear only to blast over with the goal in sight.
These missed chances almost haunted the Brazilians and they needed a goal-line clearance from Brian Onyango after 25 minutes to thwart Hussien Nooh Mohamed's tap-in.
Sundowns were forced to bring on a substitution in the last ten minutes of the half when a coming-together involving Saavedra saw him stretchered off and Thabiso Kutumela entered.
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Merrikh provided a stern start to the second half and looked to go ahead from efforts by Mohamed and Mohamed Mahamoud but Masandawana cleared.
The Brazilians looked alive again before the closing quarter through a smart effort outside the area by Shalulile, but he went wide while Wagdi Awad Abd Alla had a goal ruled out at the other end.
Sundowns still continued to be on the receiving end of openings, as Kutumela dragged a cutback on the edge of the area wide of target late on.
Masandawana missed a big chance to bag the winner in the final minute of play after Lesedi Kapinga snapped a loose ball from a low cross wide and left the match goalless.
Confirmed line-ups:
Sundowns: D.Onyango, Coetzee, B. Onyango, De Reuck, Lakay, Jali, Mudau, Ralani, Zwane, Saavedra, Shalulile.
Subs: Mweene, Morena, Modiba, Mvala, Kekana, Mokoena, Kapinga, Kutumela, Erasmus