CAF Champions League: Five-star Mamelodi Sundowns put one foot in group stages

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CAF Champions League: Five-star Mamelodi Sundowns put one foot in group stages
Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrating a goal - Picture courtesy of Mamelodi Sundowms

Mamelodi Sundowns began their CAF Champions League campaign in brilliant fashion as they swept aside Nigerian champions Remo Stars 5-1 in their second preliminary round first leg match.

Sundowns started their campaign away in Nigeria on Sunday but were unfazed by the partisan crowd as they took the lead after 12 minutes when Tashreeq Matthews broke the deadlock.

Against the run of play, Matthews received the ball while running towards the box and fired first time on his left foot past the Remo Stars goalkeeper.

Sundowns turned on the style against Remo Stars

Sundowns kept asking the questions and the answer arrived in the 42nd minute when they scored a second goal through Peter Shalulile, the Namibian striker capitalising on a defensive mistake to tuck home from close range.

The third goal arrived just after the hour mark when a totally dominant Sundowns went on another counterattack with Khuliso Mudau doing well on the right wing.

Mudau then squared the ball to new signing Miguel Reisinho who had the easiest job of just tapping it home.

With Remo Stars failing to deal with an aerial ball, the ball fell to Arthur Sales who hammered home the fourth for Miguel Cardoso’s team in the 74th minute.

PSL champions all but assured group stage ticket

However, the home side made a rare foray into the Sundowns box with Samson Olasupo getting the better of Ashely Cupido to pull one back for the Nigerian champions.

It did not end there for last year’s finalists who made a statement of intent by scoring the fifth through new signing Tsiki Ntsabeleng five minutes from time.

It was a comprehensive victory for Sundowns, who look to have all but secured their place in the group stages, as the Nigerian side will need to win at least 4-0 in the return match in South Africa next weekend to dump the South African champions out. 

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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