Mamelodi Sundowns etched their name into the history books on Wednesday morning, securing their first-ever victory at the FIFA Club World Cup.
A lone goal from Iqraam Rayners in the 36th minute was enough to seal a 1-0 win over South Korean champions Ulsan HD at the Inter & Co Stadium, propelling the Brazilians to the top of Group F.
The match, originally scheduled for an earlier kick-off, was delayed by an hour due to inclement weather conditions in Orlando, with the first-half eventually getting underway at 01h00 CAT.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso’s starting line-up saw some notable inclusions, with Themba Zwane, who missed out on the CAF Champions League final last month, returning to the pitch. Keanu Cupido also earned a start in defence, partnering with Grant Kekana.
The match kicked off with an energetic start from both teams. Sundowns’ Arthur Sales had an early chance blocked, while Erick Farias of Ulsan saw his effort go just over the bar within the opening ten minutes.
RAYNERS NAMED SUPERIOR PLAYER OF THE MATCH
In the 29th minute, Rayners appeared to open the scoring from a Lucas Costa Ribeiro corner, but VAR disallowed it for handball. Undeterred, Rayners netted six minutes later, calmly slotting home another precise pass from Ribeiro, giving Sundowns the lead.
This match-winning effort earned him Sundowns’ first-ever FIFA Club World Cup Superior Player of the Match award. Rayners had another goal disallowed for offside just before half-time.
Ulsan increased their intensity in the second-half, seeking an equaliser. Divine Lunga’s crucial tackle denied Jung Woo-Young around the hour mark. Ulsan pressed on, and while Ronwen Williams fumbled a cross, he recovered swiftly. Sundowns held firm under pressure, securing a historic victory.
The win puts Sundowns at the top of Group F, boosted by the draw between Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund. This also marks the first win for an African team in this Club World Cup edition, earning Sundowns R36 million in prize money on top of their R174 million participation fee.
The Tshwane giants will be back in action on Saturday, June 21, 2025, when they face Borussia Dortmund in their second Group F encounter.
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