At Loftus Versfeld Mamelodi Sundowns made heavy weather of what should have been a regulation CAF Champions League home demolition; instead, they had to settle for a 1-0 win against Sudan's Al-Hilal at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
On a pitch that soaked up all the rain that has affected the Highveld over the past week and a bit, Sundowns were highly functional in most areas but were unnecessarily fancy in front of goal.
It cost them plenty of goal-scoring chances and seems to be a habit that they haven't shaken off from previous campaigns. It cost them badly, especially on the road and in playoff games, where sharper and more defensively resolute teams have punished them.
It's still early in the group stages, but with trips to Garoua (Coton Sport), Cairo (Al-Ahly) and the return game against Saturday's opposition in Omdurman to come in Group B, Sundowns need to be clinical and less elaborate in front of goal.