The Mamelodi Sundowns team failed to secure a victory over Viliete SC, ending the first match of the CAF Champions League preliminary round in Angola in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.
Head coach Miguel Cardoso made two changes to the squad that defeated Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 tournament last week: Ricardo Goss replaced injured Ronwen Williams in goal, and Favaaz Basadien came on for left-back instead of Aubrey Modiba.
The match started 30 minutes later than scheduled due to adverse weather conditions, but Sundowns began the game positively, taking the initiative and creating more chances in the first half.
Sundowns came close to scoring in the first five minutes when Brian Leon broke through the Viliete defense following a pass from Nuno Santos. Leon converted his shot, but the Viliete defender deflected the ball out of the goal line, preventing the visitors from gaining an early advantage.
The Brazilians continued to dictate the pace of the game, but their attacking activity did not result in a goal before halftime. The first half was also marred by the injury of midfielder Teboko Mokoele, who was carried off on a stretcher after a strong tackle by a Viliete player.
Mokoele's departure was a worrying moment for Cardoso, as Sundowns must balance internal commitments with participation in the continental campaign. Despite dominating the first half, the team could not turn possession and created chances into a goal, leaving the contest tense ahead of the return leg in South Africa.
This result means that the Brazilians need to utilize the home field advantage to advance to the Champions League group stage.
Meanwhile, Durban City had a more successful match in the CAF Confederation Cup, defeating AS Port Louis 3-1 in the first match of the second preliminary round at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Hashim Domingo and Gaston Cirino scored goals for Eric Tinker's team, and Tashrik Morris converted a penalty, giving Durban City a two-goal cushion before the return match.