A brace from Nuno Santos and a second-half strike by Marcelo Allende secured Mamelodi Sundowns a 3-1 win against Saint-Éloi Lupopo in the CAF Champions League Group C match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
Sundowns unleashed a strong line-up against the DR Congo side, which qualified for the group stages after beating Soweto giants Orlando Pirates.
The Congolese team was forced to play without Dieumerci Mukoko Amale due to a suspension from CAF.
Mukoko rose to prominence last month when his performance helped secure his side’s dramatic elimination of Pirates in the Champions League qualification phase.
NUNO SANTOS SCORES HIS FIRST BRACE FOR MASANDAWANA
The home side wasted no time in getting the opening goal of the match after a clinical finish from Nuno Santos inside the 18-yard box in the fifth minute.
10 minutes later, Tashreeq Matthews almost doubled the score for Sundowns. However, his shot inside the box was saved by the Lupopo keeper Simon Omossola. Iqraam Rayners also came close to adding his name to the scoresheet in the 20th minute, but his shot missed the target.
Matthews had an opportunity to increase the score for Sundowns, but his header from inside the box hit the crossbar.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS COLLECT MAXIMUM POINTS IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP OPENER
Sundowns were made to pay for their missed opportunities after the visitors netted an equaliser two minutes before the break. Ramos Kashala levelled the scoring for Lupopo, beating goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in the near post to take the match to 1-1 at the half-time break.
But the home side continued to pile pressure on Lupopo in the early stages of the second half. They were eventually rewarded after Marcelo Allende scored in the 61st minute. Santos found his second goal and a third for Sundowns after a cross from Arthur Sales.
The three goals ensured the Tshwane giants kicked off their group stage with a victory, bagging all three crucial points at home.
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