Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final, with the Brazilians grabbing a late away goal.
Chiefs tweaked their defence with Reeve Frosler removed for Sifiso Hlanti, as Masandawana had Khulliso Mudau back from injury before Abdelmounaim Boutouil returned from suspension.
The DStv Premiership champions enjoyed a dominant opening and nearly fashioned the lead with a clever dink outside the area from Lucas Ribeiro Costa, but he couldn't beat Brandon Petersen.
Not too many ventures were brought to the fore by the Amakhosi who instead overloaded the middle of the park and looked to catch the Brazilians on the counter-attack.
Sundowns were forced to make a substitution in the last ten minutes before halftime, with Themba Zwane stretchered off after receiving a knock from Yusuf Maart and Lesiba Nku came on.
Masandawana still applied most of the pressure where a stray ball saw Costa cut in-field to work an angle before bringing Petersen to a fine stop.
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The Amakhosi decided to hand Colombian striker Jadson Gonzalez his debut after halftime as he replaced Mduduzi Mdantsane.
Chiefs bagged the opening goal from their first attack following the opening quarter of the second stanza when Edson Castillo ran in-behind Rivaldo Coetzee at the far post and nodded in the near corner.
Masandawana looked to hit back immediately through telling bit of shots from Costa, Neo Maema, Marcelo Allende and substitute Junior Mendieta, but Peteren parried effectively.
With a couple of minutes left on the clock, Petersen was beaten in the dying minutes when Mudau leaped high in the area to guide Mendieta's pin-point cross in the far corner for the away goal.
It's advantage the Brazilians who will go in the second-leg on September 23rd carrying the all-important away-goal.
Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Kwinika, Hlanti, Dithlokwe, Msimango, Maart, Castillo, Mdantsane, Potsane, Mmodi, Du Preez.
Subs: Khune, Ngcobo, Frosler, Shabalala, Solomons, Radebe, Saile, Matlou, Gonzalez
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Boutouil, Mvala, Coetzee, Modiba, Mokoena, Allende, Zwane, Maema, Ribeiro Costa
Subs: D. Onyango, Lebusa, Kekana, Mashego, Aubaas, Mkhulise, Mabena, Mendieta, Nku
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