Mamelodi Sundowns Win Big Over Lupopo In CAF Champions League
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| Sundowns Cruise To 3-1 Win Over Lupopo In CAF Champions League Opener |
Mamelodi Sundowns defeated St Eloi Lupopo 3-1 in their CAF Champions League Group C match at Loftus Stadium, with goals from Nuno Santos and Marcelo Allende securing the win.
Lupopo had barely attacked all game but levelled a minute before halftime...
Sundowns ease to CAF Champions League win over Lupopo. Mamelodi Sundowns beat DR Congo side St Eloi Lupopo 3-1 in their CAF Champions League Group C clash at Loftus Stadium.
It was a victory delivered by their foreign players, and with some ease in the end, as they dominated possession and chances and were fully deserving of the win.
Sundowns' opener inside five minutes was a Portuguese one-two. Miguel Reisinho launched an excellent long ball into the box, and Nuno Santos beat the offside trap to volley the net for his first goal for Sundowns.
It was a magic pass and a deft touch from Santos - exactly the kind of quality Sundowns were looking for when signing the pair.
Lupopo had barely attacked all game but levelled a minute before halftime. Keanu Cupido allowed a cross from the right, and Wanet Kashala steered it goalwards, with Ronwen Williams unable to keep it out.
It was a sucker punch for the hosts, who'd dominated but conceded the first time they were tested in defence.
There was more South American magic for Sundowns as they regained the lead on the hour mark. Santos and Reisinho were involved in the build-up before Chilean Marcelo Allende scored with a pinpoint shot from the edge of the box.
It was Allende's first Champions League goal since scoring in Sundowns' 5-2 win over Al Ahly in March 2023.
Sundowns have spent big on foreign players, and their quality's starting to shine. Tashreeq Matthews created space on the left, and his pass inside the box was collected by Arthur Sales.
The Brazilian turned and hung a superb cross on the edge of the six-yard box, and Santos met it perfectly with a header that beat goalkeeper Simon Omossola.
Those are Santos' first goals since he netted in the Portuguese top flight for Vitoria Guimarães against Arouca in January.
Sundowns next head to Algeria for a Champions League clash with MC Alger and a reunion with former coach Rulani Mokwena, who's now in charge of the North African side.
MC Alger lost their pool opener away at Sudanese side Al Hilal in neutral Rwanda and will be desperate for a win with two rounds of the Champions League played ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and teams then having to wait until late January to be back in action. It would be a huge boost for Sundowns to go into that break with two wins.
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