Berkane, Sundowns squeeze into CAF Champions League semis

Renaissance Berkane of Morocco won thanks to an added-time goal and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa lost with 10 men as both clubs booked CAF Champions League semi-finals places on Sunday.

Mounir Chouiar atoned for having a penalty saved by finishing a slick move after a free-kick on 93 minutes to give Berkane a 1-0 away win over Al Hilal of Sudan in Kigali.

Berkane, debuting in the premier African club competition after winning the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup three times and finishing runners-up twice, advanced 2-1 on aggregate.

Sundowns squeezed into the semi-finals having conceded 45 seconds after the kick-off and losing 2-0 away to Stade Malien of Mali in the 38 degree Celsius heat of Bamako.

Fortunately for the South African club, they had built a 3-0 first-leg lead in Pretoria and qualified 3-2 on aggregate to face Esperance of Tunisia for a place in the final.

Unimpressive in the group phase, Esperance stunned record 12-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt in Cairo on Saturday, winning the second leg 3-2 after taking a 1-0 lead into the return match.

Berkane were indebted to Chouiar in both legs as he successfully converted a 99th-minute penalty in the first encounter last weekend to salvage a 1-1 draw.

The Moroccans will face compatriots FAR Rabat in the other semi-final during April. FAR shocked defending champions Pyramids of Egypt 2-1 in Cairo on Saturday after a drawn first leg.

Hilal, forced to stage home matches in Rwanda because of the civil war in Sudan, were unlucky in the second half when a header from substitute Ousmane Diouf rebounded off the post.

Earlier in the second half, Hilal had a goal by Adama Coulibaly disallowed because of a prior foul that led to the Berkane penalty, which Farid Ouedraogo parried to safety.

After falling behind in Mali to a headed goal by Cameroonian Taddeus Nkeng -- his sixth in the Champions League this season -- Sundowns conceded again as half-time approached.

A Stade goal attempt rebounded off the crossbar and Haman Mandjan reacted quickest to slam the loose ball past Sundowns captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Unable to assert authority in the searing heat, Sundowns were reduced to 10 men when defender Aubrey Modiba was red-carded on 77 minutes.

But the Pretoria outfit prevented Malien scoring a third goal, which would have taken the tie to a penalty shootout. Now, Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso will face former club Esperance.