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Sundowns through to Champions League group stages
The Brazilians out-muscled the Burundian side 6-0 on aggregate to book their place in the group stages of Africa's premier club competition.
Tebogo Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates goal with teammates during CAF Champions League 2023/24 match against Bumamuru at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday. (Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix)
Mamelodi Sundowns warmed-up for next week’s MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates with a comfortable 2-0 win over Bumamuru in the Caf Champions League.
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The Brazilians out-muscled the Burundian side 6-0 on aggregate to book their place in the group stages of Africa’s premier club competition.
The home team had one foot in the next round as they came into the game with a healthy 4-0 lead from the first leg.
Mothobi Mvala and Teboho Mokoena were on target in a match that at times looked like a training session for Rulani Mokwena’s team.
Bumamuru played like a team resigned to another defeat against their more superior opponents and offered little resistance to Sundowns’ dominance.
Masandawana will be anxious over the injury to Lucas Ribeiro ahead of the sold-out final against the Buccaneers. The Brazilian winger hobbled off the field and was replaced by Thapelo Morena early in the first half.
Mvala headed Sundowns into the lead 11 minutes into the game from an Aubrey Modiba cross.
The record-breaking South African champions failed to capitalise on a number of good opportunities to extend their lead before half-time at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
The one-way traffic continued in the second half with 2016 African champions enjoying the lion’s share of possession.
Mokoena kept the scoreboard ticking four minutes after the break with a powerful shot outside the box.
The Chloorkop-based team took their foot off the paddle after the second goal. They were happy to just keep possession and wind down the clock.
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Sundowns are the only South African team remaining in the champions league after Pirates were shockingly knocked out of the competition by Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana on Friday.
SuperSport United have also qualified for the group stages of CAF’s second-tier inter-club competition, the Confederation Cup.
Sekhukhune United play Saint Eloi Lupopo on Sunday looking to join Matsatsantsa a Pitori in the next round.
