Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has a tough next assignment against MC Alger coached by former Downs mentor Rhulani Mokwena. Photo: Sipho Siso
Mamelodi Sundowns tops Group C of the Caf Champions League after blasting past a stubborn Democratic Republic of the Congo side Saint Eloi Lupopo.
After an initial struggle in the first half leading to the loss of its 1-0 lead in the game, the Yellow Machine came back firing and stamped its authority on the home fixture to cruise 3-1 in the opening match of its group, that includes the likes of top Algerian side MC Algier, which is coached by former Sundowns mentor Rhulani Mokwena, and Al-Hilal SC of Sudan.
The opening goal of the match came from Portuguese midfield maestro Nuno Santos as early as in the 14th minute with a brilliant display of skills and ball control that game Lupopo keeper Simon Medjo no chance.
Late in the closing stages for the oranges break, Ramos Kashala Wanet found the back of the net for his side with a brilliant taken seater of a goal that almost grazed the upright but slid past between Ronwen Williams’ left arm and foot to rattle the back of the net.
After a peptalk during the break, Bafana baStyle, as Sundowns is also known to its faithful fans, came guns blazing and fired from all the cylinders with an overwhelming dominance of the game, which paids huge goal dividends for the Tshwane outfit. Outstanding nimble-footed Chilean midfielder and dribling wizard Marcelo Allende controlled a pass from Santos and turned a defender to slot the ball into the back of the net, squeezing it in one of the tightest of spaces between the keeper and his left upright of the posts, to restore his side’s lead.
It was not long before Santos received a long range curling strike and the Portuguese towered in a maze of defenders to head the ball into the back of the net, to seal not just his brace in the game but the 3-1 win for Masandawana and propeled the side to the top of its group.
The next game for Masandawana will be on November 29 in Algiers, the capital of Algeria against MC Alger, which is now coached by Sundowns’ former mentor, Rhulani Mokwena. Orlando Pirates beat them in their own backyard in Algiers in the same tournament last season and with the right mentality and game plan, Sundowns can do the same.
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