Mamelodi Sundowns got off to the perfect start in the CAF Champions League 2021 season with a 2-0 win over Al Hilal Omdurman. The clash saw the return of Mothobi Mvala to the starting eleven after missing league games due to suspension. Newly-signed Rushine De Reuck made the bench for the first time since joining The Brazilians. The two sides were meeting for the third -time in the competition with the last time being in 2008.
The Brazilians showed intent as early as the first minute when Lebo Maboe found himself in a good area and put in a cross which narrowly missed the target. Themba Zwane also got into the thick of things as he had his effort saved by the visitor’s keeper in the eighth minute. It took ten minutes for Masandawana to take the lead as Mosa Lebusa rose highest to head home his first for the season and the opener for the day.
Sphelele Mkhulise almost doubled the lead but his shot was saved by the keeper. The returning Mvala rose in the air and his header went wide of the post of the visiting team. Peter Shalulile came close as he just missed the ball with a few centimetres from a Gaston Sirino cross. The first stanza ended with the Brazilians leading one-nil.
The side from Omdurman stepped up their intensity in the second half and were chasing the equaliser, Denis Onyango who was not called into action in the first half was called into action early in the second half, as he saved a low driven free-kick. The 2016 Champions showed dominance in the second half and kept pushing for the second goal as they created chances without applying the finishing touch. With ten minutes to go the game opened up and both sides were throwing jabs at each other and ultimately Bafana Ba Style landed the final blow as substitute Kermit Erasmus calmly placed the ball past Al Hilal’s keeper to make the score 2-0 and seal all three points.
Masandawana sit top of the group after the first game of the group stages with three points.
How we lined up: Onyango, Maboe, Nascimento, Lebusa, Lakay, Coetzee, Mvala, Mkhulise (Kapinga 65′), Zwane ( Erasmus 65′), Sirino ( Morena 86′), Shalulile
Subs: Goss, Modiba, De Reuck, Jali, Morena, Kapinga, Erasmus
Dawanas pls let’s support whichever is fielded by our Wisemen,I know all of us have got our favorite players whom We wanted them to start the game,we mustn’t forget all those players are registered as our players, this thing of hating or accusing Mvala is not good at all.Most of our African opponents are giants so as Mvala he will compete easily with them and We can’t fielding the same line-up because the very same supporters will also cry for other players to be given a chance to play saying players need to be rotated so that they can be fleshier.
Other than the above nice win today hope well’ beat T.P.Mazembe on their home soil,lastly let’s stop comparing Pitso to our Wisemen,he was not holy as some have portrayed him.Kby forever
I think you have a point on Mvala.The poor guy was converted into a very different position since he joined Downs family. At his former team he was not made to play such a huge role,instead was allowed a free flow, but now at Sundowns he is expected to destroy while also distributing. For me, that might not come cheap, he still has a lot to improve. I believe the PSL games will give him chance to improve.I might be wrong,but yeah he deserve a chance.
Honestly if players and Technical team can continue with the brand football we are use to at Sundowns, opponents / teams will always struggle to stop this already moving train. Sundowns is Mighty, even the detractors can see it,its only a matter of accepting.But I think the idea of having those three senior technical staff is working for the team, I don’t think one could have handle that deep squad of those young stars.Wow,I would have to wait and see if I could not watch the repeat on Supersport.
Good win… Im worried when we go away to Sudan. But let’s cross that bridge when we get there. What’s obvious in the word “supporters” is “support”, though hidden from some of us. Every Mamelodi Sundowns player is brought in to play. It’s up to the technical team to decide who to pick for matchday. We aren’t there at training to see what goes on there. Say, me and another supporter are given a chance to pick the lineup, guaranteed we won’t pick the same players. By this im not saying supporters shouldn’t voice out their opinions. But we complain even when the team is winning guys. We have only lost once this season. One loss in 20 matches. 15 league games, 3 Caf, 1 top 8 and 1 nedbank.
I just pray Mvala ignore all the negatives thrown at him by those who’s supposed to be supporting him. His strength is in winning the ball no doubt about it, not crisp in passing, but the work he does in breaking opponents attacks is huge, many don’t see that. Let’s give a boy a break, maybe he’ll improve his passing game to our standard
I wonder what supporters will say the day we loose a match if they complain like this even we are winning, I bet my last cent they will say our Wisemen must be fired forgetting that in soccer you loose sometimes and no team is entitled to win every game even Barca.,B.Munich and Man City can attest to that.
Let’s not support result but the team even in bad times.Its a known fact that Downs have got the best players whom they can beat any team but one day we will loose so let’s leave a room for disappointment and stop pointing fingers.
Let’s trust our Wisemen and stop calling them “plumbers” and support any player they field on the day because that particular player is ours at the end.
This thing of saying so and so brought us the Champs league then we can’t discard him or them is out of other,those players were employed to performed it was their job to do so then we can’t on always dwelling on the past life must go on and create a new legacy with the players we have and performing good rite now.
A win is a good thing guys my players. But learn to kill games early, you are wasting more chances every game. Please
Good point members let’s support the boys caz the are winning matches is what matters and remember we have a lot of New players in our team.
Masandwana amahle, am sure most of us played the game, and obviously not at a professional level, some am sure were close but a poor pass and the South African disease of poor trapping the ball, I mean guys you will remember ppl back in the days in your locations or villages who had the most beautiful first touches or trapping the ball when passed to you, I’m a big sandawana but 80% of our players are poor in trapping, these are basics from early on as a small boy. The name Surprise Moriri that all of us associate with Sundowns legendary status and a few other South African players. What is the point I’m making here, a lot of our players if not all are not perfect and will never be, personally my self I don’t like slow players but games are different and u need certain players for certain games, Mvala is slow but has his good moments, Maboe has bad decision making but he is tough and hardly gets injured which always make him available for games, in my eyes if a player had poor first touch, slow, cnt win aerial balls, poor decision making then that’s not of Sundowns quality and should leave, our players must also remember that most of them soccer is what they do day in and day out and they must not take offense when we criticize. I will not reveal my profession but imagine if everyday I went to do the same thing but ppl always complain, that will definitely alert me to do better or seek help. Masandawana amahle ningangizondi sisonke la, ngiyabonga