CAFCL: Sundowns push past Lupopo for winning start in Group C

Nuno Santos provided two goals and an assist as Mamelodi Sundowns got off to a winning start in Group C of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL) with a 3-1 victory over FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo on Saturday.

A strong start for the hosts at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria saw Santos open the scoring inside five minutes. The Portuguese attacker received a clever pass from compatriot Miguel Reisinho and volleyed past goalkeeper Simon Omossola.

But the visitors from DR Congo did not make it easy for the heavy favorites. Les Cheminots improved their defensive performance and equalized against the run of play before halftime. An attack down the right wing created space for Lumande Carel Twite and the right back crossed for Ramos Kashala to finish at the near post.

The hosts continued to dominate possession after halftime and managed to pull away from the Congolese club. In the 61st minute, Marcelo Allende’s low shot snuck through a crowd and left Omossola helpless after an intricate team movement ended with Santos setting up the Chilean to finish.

The visitors struggled to create any danger without the ball and the South African champions put the match away in the 78th minute courtesy of Santos. Substitute forward Arthur Sales found room on the left wing and chipped in a cross for Santos to punch his header past Omossola for the finishing blow.

Next weekend, Sundowns travel to face Algeria’s MC Alger. Lupopo will host the other winners from the opening matchday in Group C, Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman, in Lubumbashi.