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Mamelodi Sundowns have had a positive start to their CAF Champions League campaign. This comes after a lopsided 5-1 victory over Nigerian side, Remo Stars in the first leg of the second preliminary round on Sunday evening at the M.K.O Abiola International Stadium.
Inside ten minutes, the visitors almost broke the deadlock through Nuno Santos. Peter Shalulile had set him up nicely to pull a perfect shot on target but the keeper smacked it away. Tashreeq Matthews then found the rebound but it hit the side netting.
The opener finally came on the 12th minute through a resilient Matthews. From range, he fired a shot to beat the keeper, stamping authority for his side.
With the west vs the south rivalry, the fixture promised physicality and it did deliver that with plenty of physical breaks in the opening minutes of the match. Eventually, Malibongwe Khoza was forced out after picking up a knock before the twenty-minute mark. Grant Kekana came in as the replacement.
Following the restart after the water break, the hosts showed warning signs, threating the Downs defence inside the area. The visitors were, however, high on alert as they denied Remo an equaliser. Again, they almost found the back of the net after the attack was unmarked as they made a run into the area. Ronwen Williams, however, came off his line to snatch the ball.
Following a setpiece awarded to Bafana Ba Style, Marcelo Allende made a precise delivery into the area which was met by Miguel Reisinho’s glancing header. While on target, the headed effort was smacked away by the keeper.
In the final minutes of the first stanza, Williams gave the ball away outside the box. While off his mark, Remo Stars took a shot from range but it missed the target by a few inches as it sailed over the bar.
Shalulile managed to give his side a two goal advantage before heading to the interval. He found himself being chased by the defence as he ran into the area. Before the defence could get to him, he made a shot which saw the ball go past the goalkeeper who was off his line.
The hosts concluded the opening half with their biggest test when they managed to bypass the Downs defence. They just couldn’t bypass Williams as he put his body on the line to make a stunning save.
The second half’s first big threat was from Bafana Ba Style when Khuliso Mudau made a run from Downs half. He made a cross from the right flank into the face of goal which was cleared by the Remo Stars defence.
On the 63rd minute, the first goal of the second half was witnessed. It started when Santos delivered the ball to Mudau who made another run, bursting into the penalty area by beating three defenders. He made a cross which was met by Reisinho who tapped it in to get his first goal in Brazilian colours.
A few minutes later, Williams was tested by a long range effort which he effortlessly tapped over the bar. The corner awarded to the hosts didn’t amount to anything as the Downs rearguard cleared the ball away. The hosts’ biggest chance came from the left flank to cut back inside. The delivery was met by a powerful shot which rattled the crossbar.
On the 75th minute, substitute, Kutlwano Letlhaku lobbed the ball into the area. After finding plenty of feet, the ball landed in Arthur Sales’ feet who found the back of the net through an acrobatic effort. Two minutes later, after continuously knocking on the door, a well-whacked goal went past Williams, handing Remo Stars their first goal of the encounter.
Katlego Ntsabeleng made it five to conclude the match. Lebo Mothiba had made a beautiful distribution from the right flank. Ntsabeleng received the delivery to tap-it in, also getting his first goal in Brazilian colours. Masandawana will look to finish the job when they host Remo Stars in the second leg over the weekend.
How we lined up: Williams ©, Mudau, Khoza, Cupido, Mokoena, Modiba, Allende, Matthews, Shalulile, Santos, Reisinho.
Subs: Onyango, Kekana, Lunga, Aubaas, Adams, Ntsabeleng, Sales, Letlhaku, Mothiba.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.