Sundowns, champions in 2016, travelled the length of the continent under pressure after Walid El Karti’s stoppage-time equaliser gave Pyramids the advantage at the halfway stage of the tie.
The South Africans showed more intent in the early stages, with Pyramids happy to sit back and soak up the pressure, but the visitors were guilty of misplaced passes and lacked fluency in attack.
Mayele’s opener came after Grant Kekana failed to clear a cross, and the DR Congo international pounced to net his ninth goal of this season’s competition.
Sundowns did not have a shot on target until the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, when home keeper Ahmed El Shenawy was drawn into an excellent point-blank save to deny Tashreeq Matthews following a breakaway.
A great free-kick from Mohamed Chibi teed up Samy to double the lead, although Pyramids could only be assured of breathing space once a VAR check ruled that the centre-back was onside.
El Shenawy made another good save to keep out Teboho Mokoena’s powerful free-kick midway through the second half, but Sundowns had hope when Rayners converted a cross in the 75th minute.
However, it proved to be too little too late as Sundowns, who have won the past eight South African league titles, just could not breach El Shenawy’s goal again despite their late attacks.
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