Summary Chiefs have been struggling to score in the national league and they wasted several good chances
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South African clubs fared disappointingly at home in the CAF Champions League this weekend with Mamelodi Sundowns snatching a late victory over 10 men and Kaizer Chiefs losing.
Zimbabwean Khama Billiat brought good domestic form to the international arena by scoring four minutes from time as Sundowns won 1-0 against Democratic Republic of Congo outfit TP Mazembe in Pretoria.
But the hosts would have hoped for a bigger lead after Mazembe had to play more than half the match a man short because Kabaso Chongo was red-carded.
Chiefs have been struggling to score in the national league and they wasted several good chances after Moroccans Raja Casablanca struck early for a 1-0 victory in Indian Ocean city Durban.
The South Africans defence was asleep on six minutes, allowing unmarked Nigerian Ighodaro Osaguona to nod a Yassine Salhi free-kick past goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo.
Despite boasting world-class facilities and the richest and best organised national league on the continent, South African clubs have not made the expected impact.
Since readmission to CAF club competitions in 1993 after decades of apartheid-induced isolation, only Soweto-based Orlando Pirates have become African champions.
Pirates also won the one-match CAF Super Cup and Chiefs lifted the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup 14 years ago.
But three triumphs in 22 years is not the return expected from a country whose footballers enjoy many advantages over those from rival countries.
A lack of mental toughness when playing away and woeful finishing are often-cited reasons for the lack of success, and the latter problem was evident in Durban.
Substitute Siphelele Mthembu had a great chance to level in the closing stages when one-on-one with Raja goalkeeper Khalid Askri, but took the wrong option.
Stroking the ball with the side of his boot to either side of Askri would have virtually guaranteed an equaliser, but the gangling striker tried to break the netting instead and fired embarrassingly wide.
The defending champions, Algerians Entente Setif, put aside the suspension of goalkeeper Sofiane Khedairia to force a 1-1 draw at Gambians Real Banjul.
Khedairia, a key figure in the team that won the title last year on away goals against DR Congo outfit V Club, was suspended after the club said he feigned injury to avoid visiting west Africa.
Ablie Jallow gave Real an early second-half lead and Mohamed Bouchar levelled for the Black Eagles inside the final quarter.
Veteran goal poacher Emad Meteb bagged a second-half brace to give record eight-time African champions Egyptians Al-Ahly a 2-0 triumph over Rwandan army club APR in Kigali.
There were two-goal victories for Sudanese El-Merrikh and Malians Stade Malien while Zambians Zesco United, Cameroonians Coton Sport and Algerians El-Eulma were held at home.
