CAF Champions League final: Pyramids snatch late draw against Mamelodi Sundowns

Walid El Karti heads in crucial away goal to take 1-1 draw back to Cairo for return leg

Pyramids' Walid El Karti, in blue, scores in the 94th minute as the game against Mamelodi Sundowns finished 1-1. Reuters

Egyptian club Pyramids FC grabbed a dramatic late draw at Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the first leg of the African Champions League final on Saturday.

With the away goals rule still applying in African club competition, the momentum now swings the way of the Cairo club after Walid El Karti deservedly headed home at the back post after a strong finish to the game at Loftus Versfeld.

Sundowns had taken the lead through Brazilian midfielder Lucas Ribeiro in the 54th minute with a curling left-footed shot after a deflected clearance fell perfectly for him.

The South African club were strong favourites going into the tie against the Egyptian side, who are competing in the Champions League for only a second time.

But the hosts were surprised by the strong pressing and running of the visitors, who defied the high altitude to emerge the better of the two sides.

Sundowns, whose only previous Champions League success came in 2016, had a first-half chance when Iqraam Rayners' effort was saved by Ahmed El Shenawy but the Egyptians always looked lively on the counter and forced several errors from the home defence.

However, they had to wait until virtually the last touch of the game as a cross from Mohamed Hamdy on the left was allowed to bounce in the box and went through for El Karti to finish.

"I was unhappy with our performance in the last 10 minutes – we dropped too far back," said Sundowns' Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso.

"Conceding so late obviously is disappointing, but we can score in Cairo and win the return match there.

"The Pyramids midfielders were very aggressive and that is something we have to counter in the second leg.

"I am not making excuses, but the pitch was very slippery and that did not suit our style," added the coach who lost the last Champions League final with Esperance of Tunisia.

Pyramids coach and former Croatia midfielder Krunoslav Jurcic pleaded with Egyptian football followers to attend the return match next Sunday.

When the Cairo outfit won at home to another South African club, Orlando Pirates, in the semi-finals, only a few thousand cheered them on in a 30,000-seat stadium.

"Please come to the stadium and support us. We are playing for all of Egypt. Your backing can be a crucial factor," said Jurcic.

"We had energy today, we had knowledge of Sundowns, but this final is far from over. Sundowns beat us in Cairo in the last Champions League."

The return leg at Cairo’s Air Defence Stadium is next Sunday, June 1.