Nine-man Mamelodi Sundowns played to a goalless draw against Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final.
Masandawana rolled out the big guns such as Peter Shalulile and Themba Zwane, with Moroccan Abdelmounaim Boutouil at the heart of the defence.
The DStv Premiership champions looked to have hit the front after the self-same Shalulile tucked in a well-worked delivery, but it was disallowed after the Video Assistant Review (VAR) deemed him offside.
Sundowns pushed up again around the midway period of the first half and watched a snap shot from the edge of the box by Zwane drew a save off Wydad's Youssef El Motie.
With the visitors eager to get a foot-hold, the defending champions remained cautious of the intentions and calculated every move in both defence and attack.
However, Masandawana wrestled back momentum before halftime as a shot from range by Teboho Mokoena following quick bit of play brought El Motie to a save.
Sundowns were down to ten players three minutes to the break after Neo Maema got his marching orders for dangerous play.
The reigning champions brought on Zouhair El Moutaraji after halftime and sacrificed Saifeddine Bouhra, with the Brazilians making no changes into the resumption.
Masandawana remained calm on the ball amidst a man short as a flowing move involving Zwane and Sipho Mbule set Thapelo Morena in for a strike, but the defence blocked.
Wydad came alive soon after the interval and engineered a free-kick from a decent area around the box, but it was courted before Ronwen Williams pulled off a telling save moments later.
Wydad continue to pressurisse in the closing stages and should have taken the lead on 86 minutes through substitute Hamid Ahadad, who sent a header just wide of the upright.
In a rare foray forward, Sundowns had a chance to snatch a win minutes later via a spectacular effort from Shalulile in the box, but the Namibian's effort sailed over the target.
Sundowns, however, finished the game with nine men when Marcelo Allende was sent off in second-half stoppage time after a VAR review, but the visitors were able to hold out for the draw.
Here's how they line up:
Wydad: El Motie, Aboufath, Jabrane, Jaadi, El Hassouni, Ounajem, Idrissi, Sambou, Amloud, Bouhra, Kiaku
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Boutouil, Mvala, Mbule, Modiba, Mokoena, Mudau, Morena, Zwane, Maema, Shalulile
Subs: D.Onyango, Lebusa, Zungu, Sirino, Allende, Kekana, Mkhulise, Mashego, Mailula
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