Al-Hilal stunned South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns with a 2-1 victory in Kigali to seize control of Group C in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League on Friday night, ending a long wait for a win over their illustrious rivals.
Played at the Amahoro Stadium, the Matchday 4 clash swung on moments of ruthlessness from the Sudanese side, who capitalised on Sundowns’ errors to climb to the top of the table at the halfway stage of the group phase.
Al-Hilal struck first deep into first-half stoppage time after referee Mahmoud Nagy awarded a penalty following a costly mistake by veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
International forward Mohammed Abdel Rahman stepped up and kept his nerve, sending Onyango the wrong way to give the Sudanese champions a deserved lead at the break.
The momentum stayed with Al-Hilal after the restart and they doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half.
Jean Claude Girumugisha latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area and drilled a low shot beyond Onyango, a finish that underlined Sundowns’ growing discomfort and the sharpness of their opponents.
Sundowns responded by increasing their tempo and found a lifeline just past the hour mark.
Brazilian substitute Arthur Sales reduced the deficit with a composed finish from inside the penalty area, giving the South Africans renewed belief and setting up a tense final half-hour.
Despite sustained pressure, Sundowns were unable to find an equaliser.
Al-Hilal defended with discipline and resilience, slowing the game at key moments and protecting their narrow advantage to secure a statement win on neutral ground.
The result lifts Al-Hilal to eight points and into sole possession of first place in Group C, placing them in a strong position as the competition heads into its decisive phase.
Sundowns, meanwhile, remain second on five points and will now need a strong response in the return fixtures to reassert their qualification credentials.
Cafonline
