Mamelodi Sundowns enjoyed a perfect start to their CAF Champions League campaign. They secured victory on Saturday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Nuno Santos and Marcelo Allende delivered heroics for the home team.
Their combined efforts saw Sundowns walk away with a convincing 3-1 victory. The result earned them three crucial points in Group C.
Masandawana made a brilliant start to the crucial continental fixture. Santos scored the opening goal in the fourth minute. He executed a perfect run with an elegant finish.
Miguel Reisinho had set up Santos with a precise pass from outside. The Portuguese midfielder delivered the ball perfectly for the opener.
Santos almost doubled their advantage before the 15-minute mark. He supplied Tashreeq Matthews on the right flank with a dangerous cross. Matthews struck a shot towards goal but couldn’t keep it low.
The effort missed the target by just a few inches.
The Congolese side searched desperately for an equalising goal throughout. They came close to finding it after bypassing the Sundowns defence. Lupopo entered the danger area but Keanu Cupido cleared brilliantly.
The defender managed to clear the ball away with a crucial kick.
Sundowns created convincing chances whilst seeking a commanding home victory. Iqraam Rayners found himself unmarked inside the penalty area completely. He received a defence-splitting pass but powered his shot wide.
The striker’s effort frustratingly rolled off target by mere inches.
Reisinho delivered another beautiful supply into the penalty area for his team. Matthews received the cross and redirected the ball towards goal intelligently. However, his header struck the woodwork and denied them a second.
Lupopo stunned the hosts with a sucker-punch in the opening half. They took advantage of Sundowns’ lapsing concentration in the closing stages. The visitors beat Ronwen Williams and levelled matters before half-time.
Both sides headed to the break with scores level at 1-1.
The second half resumed with a notably slow start from both. Neither side created any significant threats during the opening ten minutes. The Brazilians then showed signs of urgency seeking the lead.
Reisinho almost restored their advantage after Aubrey Modiba delivered a cross. However, a Lupopo defender blocked his shot inside the penalty area.
Sundowns finally regained the lead through Allende in the 61st minute. The hosts found space brilliantly and capitalised with clinical finishing. The goalkeeper could not beat Allende’s well-placed effort into the net.
Santos recorded a brace just before the 80-minute mark. He scored with a glancing header to make it 3-0. Substitute Arthur Sales provided the assist with a spin and turn.
Sales delivered a precise pass to the area where Santos headed home.
Lupopo almost reduced Sundowns’ lead before the final whistle sounded. They beat the defence inside the area but couldn’t convert. The ball went across the face of goal but was cleared.
Masandawana will now top the Group C table following this success. The victory represents a perfect start to their continental campaign. Sundowns demonstrated their quality and determination at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
