Champions League: Holders Sundowns take narrow lead in quarter-final

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Mamelodi Sundowns fansImage source, Getty Images
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Mamelodi Sundowns played the first leg of their quarter-final in front of their home fans at the Atteridgville stadium

South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns continued the defence of their African Champions League crown with a 1-0 home win over Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of their quarter-final.

In the other game on Sunday, Al Ahly Tripoli and Etoile du Sahel played out a 0-0 draw.

The return legs of all these latest ties take place next weekend.

A depleted Sundowns side, missing some key players through injury, found goals hard to come by in a barren first half.

After the break, Sundowns brought on Ivorian forward Yannick Zakri for Sibusiso Vilakazi, and the substitution paid off, with Zakri scoring in the 70th minute.

African Champions League quarter-finals first legs

Ferroviario da Beira 1-1 USM Alger (Saturday)

Al Ahly 2-2 Esperance (Saturday)

Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Wydad Casablanca (Sunday)

Al Ahly Tripoli 0-0 Etoile du Sahel (Sunday)

Zakri had been a big doubt before the game as he struggled to shake off a groin problem.

Sundowns will take their slender lead to Morocco on Saturday 23 September for the second leg.

Al Ahly Tripoli have been unable to play their home matches in Libya because of the security situation in the country, so hosted Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel near Alexandria.

Etoile went down to 10 men in the first half when Diogo Acosta was sent off, but held on for a goalless draw.

On Saturday, it finished 1-1 between Mozambique's Ferroviario da Beira and USM Alger and it was 2-2 between record 8-times winners Al Ahly of Egypt and Tunisia's Esperance.

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