Publications
Partners
Easy as pie! This is the expression that best summed up Mamelodi Sundowns’ Caf Champions League victory over AS Otôho d’Oyo of Congo-Brazzaville last night.
The Brazilians did not even break a sweat as they easily dispatched an out of sorts Congolese outfit 4-0 in their preliminary match second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
Downs won 5-2 on aggregate to advance to the first round of the competition.
Their routine victory resembled a practice match as the star-studded Brazilians had an easy workout. A first-half brace by Uruguayan Gastón Sirino, and goals from Mosa Lebusa and Themba Zwane made a mockery of the opposition, who were surely relieved to hear the referee’s full-time whistle.
Masandawana lost the first-leg 2-1 in Congo almost two weeks ago, but easily turned the tie upside down for the visitors without going the extra mile.
Downs coach Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane was not happy with the loss in Congo, but was smiling from ear to ear after watching his charges tear the Congolese to shreds.
As Mosimane predicted before kick-off, the visitors developed a defensive strategy of parking the bus with the hope of defending their victory in Congo.
But this strategy backfired as the South African champions invited themselves into their opposition’s box and netted four goals without a reply.
Downs, who won the Caf championship in 2016, threw everything at the Congolese outfit and will consider themselves unlucky not to have won by a bigger margin.
It was not a matter if but when Downs would break the deadlock as Lebogang Maboe earned them a penalty kick 10 minutes after the start of the game.
Sirino duly stepped up to send the goalkeeper Clovis Ikossie the wrong way and put the Brazilians ahead.
Downs lost Morena through a hamstring injury shortly after the goal and he was replaced by Anele Ngcongca.
The floodgates opened up after the goal as the Brazilians took full control of the tie as they queued up to find the back of the net.
Sirino’s delivery was sent to Sibusiso Vilakazi, who made an assist for defender Mosa Lebusa to score a tap-in 14 minutes after the opening goal.
The Brazilians were toying with the west African visitors as each of their attacks nearly resulted in a goal.
African goalkeeper of the year, Denis Onyango, had a quite night in the Brazilians’ goal. While he was on his mini holiday, Sundowns were causing havoc up front.
Sirino scored a beautiful right curling shot to all but end the tie as a contest 10 minutes before the break. Zwane was next on the scoresheet as he benefited from Vilakazi’s assist four minutes before the break to complete the humiliation.
