Mamelodi Sundowns secured their place in this season’s CAF Champions League final after a 2-0 aggregate victory in their last-four clash against Esperance.
After a 1-0 win in the first leg in Tunisia last week, Masandawana went into the contest with great confidence, and Brayan Leon struck the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the second leg after 34 minutes at Loftus.
Esperance started the match well, taking the game to the South African champions, but the visitors could not penetrate the defence in the opening stages.
Instead, it was Sundowns that took the lead just after the half-hour mark when goalkeeper Ben Said fouled Leon in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty.
The Colombian dusted himself off and stepped up to convert the spot-kick to put the hosts 2-0 ahead in the semifinal tie.
Esperance continued to push to get themselves back into the game, but Florian Danho saw his effort shaving the top of the cross-bar.
Ibrahima Keita then had an opportunity for the visitors early in the second half, but the chance went high and wide of Ronwen Williams’ goal.
Sundowns looked to seal the contest as substitute Marcelo Allende tested Said, but the visiting shot-stopper came to the fore.
In the end, though, Sundowns’ tight defence did enough as the South African champions booked their place in the continental final for a second successive season.