Sundowns have one foot in Champions League group stage

Mamelodi Sundowns are on the brink of qualifying for the group stage of the Caf Champions League after sweeping aside their Seychellois foes.

Sundowns posted a comfortable 5-0 win over their hosts, Cote d’ Or, in a CAF Champions League first-round, first-leg match in Victoria, Seychelles on Saturday afternoon.

Mabunda magic lifts Sundowns

Reyaad Pieterse was given a start in the Sundowns goal while Kennedy Mweene was named on the bench. Andile Jali and Tiyani Mabunda were restored to the midfield in what proved to be an inspired move from Pitso Mosimane.

A well-taken header by Mabunda gave the visitors ahead as early as the fifth minute of the game.

Downs controlled the game after their early goal, and came close to doubling their lead in the 20th minute. Sphelele Mkhulise let fly from the edge of the box, but his stinging shot went just over the crossbar. He went close again around the half hour mark, working his way into a shooting position on the edge of the box, but his effort skimmed the wrong side of the post.

Sundowns nearly gave up their lead early in the second half. In the 54th minute defender Wayne Arendse cleared the ball off of the line.

The home side started the second half with more quality in midfield but their decision making in the final third would let them down.

Lyle Lakay headed home Sundowns’ second goal in the 68th minute and that goal broke the home team’s resistance. Cote d’ Or’s defence succumbed to the endless pressure Sundowns subjected them to in the latter stages of the match.

Mkhulise makes good at last

Two minutes later, Lakay was the provider as Mkhulise finally converted an opportunity, firing home the visitors’ third goal.

In the 74th minute, Mabunda grabbed his second goal of the afternoon with a powerful shot into the top corner of the net.

Arendse had kept Downs ahead and he rounded off the scoring with a clinical finish to make the final score 5-0.

Sundowns will now shift their attention to MTN 8 action as they prepare to take on SuperSport United in a semifinal, second-leg match on Wednesday. The first leg encounter finished 1-1 but Mosimane’s side claimed the vital away goal.

The Brazilians will take their 5-0 lead into their home second leg match of the Champions League against the men from Seychelles, scheduled for the weekend spanning 27-29 September.