El Karti’s late header rescues draw for Pyramids in Champions League final first leg

Mamelodi Sundowns were denied a first-leg victory in the 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final after Walid El Karti’s stoppage-time header earned Pyramids FC a 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.

Lucas Ribeiro Costa’s second-half strike had given the home side the lead, but a lapse in concentration late in the match allowed the Egyptian visitors to equalise, setting up a tantalising second leg in Cairo next month.

Both sides approached the match cautiously in the first half, with chances at a premium.

Iqraam Rayners and Arthur Sales saw efforts go narrowly wide for Sundowns, while Fiston Mayele and Ibrahim Adel tested Ronwen Williams with speculative efforts for the visitors.

The game sprang to life after the break. Sundowns took the lead in the 54th minute when Costa latched onto a loose ball in the box, rifling home with his left foot past Ahmed El Shenawy to send the Pretoria crowd into raptures.

Sundowns had a chance to extend their lead, but substitute Peter Shalulile and Neo Maema could not convert late opportunities.

As the match entered stoppage time, Pyramids showed their resilience. A pinpoint cross from Mohanad Lasheen found El Karti unmarked in the six-yard box, and the Moroccan forward made no mistake with a precise header into the bottom corner to silence the home fans.

The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg in Cairo on 1 June, where the new CAF Champions League trophy will be lifted for the first time.

The draw extends Pyramids’ unbeaten run in the knockout stages and marks a significant result in their debut appearance in the final.

For Sundowns, the disappointment of conceding late will be tempered by a solid performance that could yet yield rewards in the return leg.

With the match broadcast in over 28 international territories including major European and African markets, the draw showcased the quality of African club football to a global audience.

Both teams now turn their attention to preparation for the decisive encounter in Cairo, where history will be made and a new chapter written in the continent’s premier club competition.