Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso pins his hopes of progressing into the next round of the Fifa Club World Cup on the ‘Goliaths of the game being beaten by the Davids of this world’. Photo: Sipho Siso

news.reporter1959@gmail.com

Mamelodi Sundowns’ clear-cut game plan of moving forward and scoring goals paid off handsomely as the ‘Yellow Machine’ lived up to its name by beating South Korean giants Ulsan HD 1-0 in the opening match to top Group F of the Fifa Club World Cup
in the United States of America.

The solitary goal came via the lethal boot of enterprising marksman Iqraam Rayners well before the first half stoppage. Before this goal, Rayners had earlier headed home another amid a goalmouth scramble, but it was disallowed after the referee
deemed him to have used a hand as well in the process.

Rayners had a third goal also disallowed for offside while the South Korean ‘Gangsters of Asia’ almost equalised, but an alert Masandawana defender managed to clear the ball from the feet of the Gangsters attacker and the ‘Brazilians’ survived
the potential of a stalemate in the opening game.

Sundowns managed to shake off the dismal performance they showed in Cairo, Egypt, against Pyramids FC in the Caf Champions League which they lost 2-1 in the second leg of the final and opened the way for the Egyptians to be crowned champions in their maiden season of champions league football.

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said he was delighted with the victory over the South Korean side which put his boys on the top of the Group F table. “All we need for the next games if we are to progress to the next round is to ensure we don’t lose, if anything we draw the games.

“One can never tell a game of football, as anything can happen. Even the Goliaths’ of the game can be beaten sometimes by the Davids of this world. If we can stick to our game plan, shut the back door and be clinical in front of goals, who knows, we can go higher in this tournament,” Cardoso said.

The next game of Sundowns is against Germany giants Borussia Dortmund on June 21 at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the final game of the group will be against Brazilian giants Fluminense FC at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens,
Florida on June 25.

Sundowns must just pin their hopes as well on the Gangsters beating Fluminense or at least draw to slightly open the window for them into the next round. But by the looks of the South Korean play, beating the Fluminense will be no different to trying to climb the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. But as they say, anything is possible in the beautiful game.