Mamelodi Sundowns stun Saint Eloi Lupopo
Betway premiership reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns have started the group stages with maximum points . Masandawana hosted the Democratic Republic of Congo premier league side Saint Eloi Lupopo at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon . Mamelodi Sundowns fans came in numbers to show supporting especially after Lupopo knocked out Orlando Pirates in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League . Last season Masandawana lost in the final against Egyptian side Pyramids FC .
In the first five minutes Nuno Santos opened the scoring for Mamelodi Sundowns .In 44th minute Wanet Kashala got the equalizer for Lupopo , taking the game into the half time break with a draw . Lupopo low block dude did not assist them as in the second half , Mamelodi Sundowns took the game into the visitors , resulting into the second goal by Marcello Allende in the 61st minute . Nuno Santos completed his brace in the 77th minute to give his side all three points .
Saint Eloi Lupopo Head Coach Guy Bukasa was on suspension and the famous right back in the club , Amale Mukoko . Club assistant Mr. Yassine Salmi told SABC Sport that they created lot of chances but failed to take advantage . " first of all I would like to congratulate Mamelodi Sundowns ; it was a good game. We knew that it is not going to be easy , playing against one of the big teams in Africa . We missed some opportunities especially in the first half . I think the different between us and Mamelodi Sundowns was chances.
" We will work on chances . In the second half we needed to play differently than in the first half. We will meet against in Congo , Lubumbashi . We will do our best ; its not easy I know but it was our first game. We still have other games " . During the media briefing Yassine responded on the question around the absence of Amane Mukoko . He said " He ( Mukoko ) is a special player but I can't speak about Mukoko now . If we win , we win as a team . If we loose , we loose as a team " .
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said on SABC Sport " In the first half we started the game very well but i think after scoring it gave us the impression that the game would be easy . In it's reality wasn't supposed to be like that . I wasn't happy in the half time , we had to push and some attitude . When you score ; you need to go with full energy to get another one . I think we had a wonderful game , balanced and the good results " .