Sundowns Ladies beat Bayelsa Queens in Champions League opener
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies got the better of Bayelsa Queens 2-1 in their CAF Women’s Champions League group stage opener at Stade de Marrakech on Monday.
Sundowns Ladies’ attacking unit started brightly, creating a couple of chances in the opening minutes of the clash.
Banyana Ba Style kept on coming, and the Nigerian side could not contain their surge, with Masandawana breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute of the contest through Lelona Daweti.
The match went into the interval with the Tshwane-based outfit leading 1-0.
A sensational second half saw the red-hot Brazilians fighting so hard to maintain their lead, as Bayelsa tried to pull one back.
The turnaround was swift and overwhelming for the Brazilians, who never looked like responding to spoil what became the perfect start to their Champions League group stage opener.
The unfazed Sundowns added to the scoreline when Daweti completed her brace.
However, Nigerian side managed to scored their first ever goal in the competition courtesy of Mary-Magdalene Anjor in the 80th minute.
The game ended with a 2-1 scoreline, with Jerry Tshabalala’s charges claiming all valuable three points in the Group B.
WHAT TSHABALALA SAID BEFORE THE GAME
Sundowns coach Tshabalala had said that his side will have to “stamp their authority” when they take on the Nigerian club to show that they are not the African Queens by fluke.
“We have to stamp our authority in the opening game because it goes a long way in signalling our intentions early enough,” he told Masandawana’s media.
“As a team, we must fight together both on and off the pitch against Yenagoa-based Bayelsa Queens.
“We will be treating each game as a final because that is what champions do. To successfully defend our crown, our defending, pressing, and finishing must be spot on at all times.”