Sundowns crush Algeria’s 10-man Belouizdad

Reigning SA footballer of the year Themba Zwane scored twice as Mamelodi Sundowns crushed a 10-man Algerian side CR Belouizdad 5-1 yesterday to take control of their Caf Champions League group.

The Group B match took place at a neutral venue in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam after the fixture was postponed last week due to Algerian authorities denying Sundowns entry into the North African nation citing restrictions related to Covid-19.

Sundowns were quick out of the block and had a kneeon-neck hold on the match from the first whistle.

They had an early reward when Belouizdad centre back Chouaib Keddad handled the ball inside the box.

Malian referee Boubou Traore did not hesitate to point to the penalty spot and flash a red card.

Zwane converted to put Sundowns ahead after five minutes of play at the Benjamin Mkapa.

Sundowns put on a master class throughout the match and though Belouizdad had their chances, the reigning South African champions hardly put a foot wrong as they suffocated the life out of their opponents.

The crushing victory puts Sundowns in a commanding position as they top Group B on six points from two matches after their 2-0 triumph over Sudanese side Al Hilal in the opening round last month.

Sudan’s Al Hilal and DR Congo giants TP Mazembe played out to a goalless draw in their Group B match in Omdurman on Wednesday.

The result from Omdurman saw Mazembe collect their second point, having also played to the same result against Belouizdad in their opening game.

Hilal picked their first point of the competition having lost 2-0 to the 2016 champions Sundowns in their first match.

Meanwhile, Gavin Hunt will be glad to see the back of February after the ailing club finished the month without winning a single match in all competitions yesterday.

Chiefs are in the midst of a lean spell and the misery continued when they were handed an embarrassing 4-0 defeat by Morocco side Wydad Casablanca in a tense Champions League group match in Burkina Faso yesterday.

The visitors’ plans unravelled very early in the game when Mohammed Ounnajem put the North Africans in the lead in the 7th minute.

It was always going to be a tough mountain to climb for Hunt’s charges after that early setback as they were forced to chase the game as they sought to bring themselves on level terms.

AmaKhosi tried to claw their way back but their brave challenge was stopped in its tracks by haftime.