Wydad Casablanca of Morocco took the advantage in the African Football League first-leg final after their 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns.
An own goal from Rivaldo Coetzee and a superb late strike by Anas Serrhat gave the Moroccan giants the advantage to take into next week’s second-leg decider.
Sundowns were punished for defensive lapses but know an early goal in the second leg could swing the tie back in their favor.
Coetzee turned an attempted clearance into his own net on 43 minutes as Montassar Lahtimi’s dangerous cross caused chaos in the Sundowns defense.
Sundowns fought back in the second half when Abdelmonem Boutouil converted a 74th-minute penalty after Yahya Jebran’s handball.
Meanwhile, Anas Serrhat, who entered the game a quarter of an hour earlier earned Wydad a 2-1 win with a ferocious shot to beat Rowen Williams in the 78th minute.
The home side nearly extended their lead but Hamdou Elhouni’s curling injury-time effort cannoned off the crossbar.
The match also witnessed a minute’s silence, after the death of Wydad Casablanca Oussamah Falouh, who passed away after being in a coma since last month after having a fatal car accident.
The second leg is slated for Pretoria at the 40,000 Loftus Versfeld Stadium on the 12th of November.
The South Africans will take encouragement from previous wins against Al Ahly and Petro Atletico en route to the final.
Sportsbeep 