Mamelodi Sundowns progress to African Champions League final


Colombian-born striker Brayan Leon saw his penalty saved, but tucked away the rebound on ​Saturday to put South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns ‌through to the African Champions League final at the expense of Esperance of Tunisia.

Leon had his 35th-minute spot kick ​parried by visiting goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said, ​but snapped up the rebound to ensure a ⁠1-0 home win at Loftus Versfeld.

He had scored ​the only goal of last Sunday’s first leg ​in Tunis, and the 2-0 aggregate triumph means Sundowns are through to the final for a second successive season.

They will ​take on either Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces or ​Renaissance Berkane, who meet later on Saturday, with the military ‌side ⁠2-0 up from last weekend’s first leg in Rabat.

Sundowns, runners-up last season, were awarded the penalty after a throw-in back to Ben Said caught the ​goalkeeper napping ​as he ⁠tried to clear, with Leon sprinting down on him and getting a touch ​to the ball before the keeper made ​contact ⁠with him as he attempted to kick clear the ball.

Esperance came close to an equaliser minutes before ⁠halftime ​when an effort off the ​knee of French striker Florin Danho struck the Sundowns’ crossbar.