Sundowns make a statement in title defence

KINSHASA: Mamelodi Sundowns showed they mean business in their CAF Champions League title defence with a highly impressive 3-1 win away over AS Vita club at the Stade des Martyrs yesterday.

The Brazilians could have won by a larger margin if they had not wasted several excellent chances, but the win nevertheless takes them up to four points from two games and sees them joint Group C leaders with Espérance de Tunis. And at the end of a long taxing season, the way an injuryhit Downs outplayed the home side was of huge credit to coach Pitso Mosimane and his men.

It was the Brazilians who drew first blood, on 23 minutes, when Tebogo Langerman’s cross found Anthony Laffor at the back post, the Liberian sending a brilliant diving header into the bottom corner of the net. But Sundowns’ lead was to last for only seven minutes, after Omar Sidibe was afforded space 20-yards out and did well to pick out the bottom corner.

The defending champions continued to press for a second goal after half-time. Sundowns began to overrun their opponents in midfield and this resulted in the ball being stolen back quickly in the 56th minute and fed to Yannick Zakri, who restored the Pretoria club’s lead with a low shot into the bottom corner from just outside the box.

Sibusiso Vilakazi was rewarded for his endeavour 13 minutes from time when he rode several challenges before squeezing the ball over the goal-line. – ANA