CAFCL: Esperance versus Sundowns return leg will be more open - Allende

Photo Credit - Mamelodi Sundowns Media.

With Mamelodi Sundowns carrying a slim 1-0 advantage, midfielder Marcelo Allende has predicted that their return leg contest against Esperance will be an open affair since the hosts will be out to attack for goals.

According to Allende, the Tunisian giants played a defensive game in the first leg of the quarter-final clash as the Brazilians managed to secure a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Peter Shalulile effort, after a headed cross from Jayden Adams.

''Of course we need to win and we know that. It has become interesting, as both teams want to win. But we are Sundowns and we are going to win there,'' Allende told SABC Sports.

On the first leg contest, he said: “Difficult game, Champions League game against a tough opponent. Now we are preparing, we will travel to Tunisia to go there and qualify.”

He concluded: '”When other teams play here in Pretoria, we know that when we are here at home, they wait a little bit. But we know we need patience, we need to move quicker and take opportunities. Shalulile scored the important goal, and Sundown took the win.”

A good fight was fought by the Pretoria-based because in the end, they emerged victorious through Shalulile’s only goal of the encounter. Up next for Masandawana, is the second leg of these quarter-finals which will take place in Tunisia on Tuesday night.