Petro de Luanda survived what looked like a late equalizer from Mamelodi Sundowns as they held on to beat the South African outfit 2-1 and earn a first leg advantage in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter final duel in Luanda on Saturday.
Sundowns scored in the fourth minute of added time, Neo Maema curling a brilliant ball into the top left corner. However, the goal was disallowed by VAR, after referee Janny Sikazwe visited the pitch-side monitor to chalk off the goal for a foul in the build up.
This is the first time that VAR is used in the quarter finals of the Champions League.
The home side had come from a goal down to lead 2-1, a score-line they will hold heading to the return tie down South next weekend.
Lyle Lakay had given Sundowns the lead in the sixth minute, but skipper Tiago Azulao levelled matters for Petro before Yano scored the equalizer at the stroke of halftime.
Masandawana had a glorious start, Lakay curling a brilliant left footed freekick into the net after Thapelo Morena had been axed at the edge of the area.
But the home side, pushed on by the passionate crowd at the Estádio 11 de Novembro gave in a fight. They levelled the scoring in the 16th minute when Azulao raced into the box to tap home a cross from To Carneiro on the left.
Sundowns almost re-took the lead in the 35th minute but Themba Zwane was denied by the bar after beating the offside trap from a Peter Shalulile pass.
The hard working Petro were rewarded for their resilience in the first minute of added time in the first half when Yano reacted quickest to burry the ball home after Azulao’s backheel effort at goal was pushed away by keeper Dennis Onyango.
In the second half, Sundowns came seeking to get their feet back in the game and they had a chance after 52 minutes but the Petro keeper made a brilliant save to deny Shalulile’s header, with Teboho Mokoena’s effort from the recycled ball curling just wide.
Petro stuck to their shape and defended well, guarding their lead and attacking when they had the chance.
Heading to the return tie next weekend, Petro just need to avoid defeat to hand themselves a place in the semi-finals while Sundowns have to win by a margin of more than two goals.
