Mamelodi Sundowns dominate Remo Stars in CAF Champions League qualifier

Tashreeq Matthews opened the scoring in the Second Preliminary round first-leg qualifier at M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium after 12 minutes.

Peter Shalulile added a second with four first half minutes remaining before Miguel Reisinho netted his first goal for his new team with 61 minutes on the clock.

Substitutes Arthur Sales (74') and Katlego Ntsabeleng (84') both scored shortly after they were introduced, as Samson Olasupo (76') netted a second-half consolation.

The result gives Sundowns a massive advantage heading into next week's second leg.

The Betway Premiership side were making a return to continental football for the first time since losing the CAF final against Pyramids FC last season, while Remo Stars started the tie with hopes of reaching the group stages for the first time in their history.

While the Brazilians entered the competition in the second round, the Sky Blue Stars secured their place against the Brazilians with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Comoros side Zilimadjou.

It took time for Sundowns to settle on the artificial surface, and against a highly aggressive Stars outfit, with their first chance arriving after 10 minutes as Reisinho drew an excellent save from Stars goalkeeper Serge Obassa before Tasreeq Matthews fired the rebound into the side-netting.

But that miss only seemed to spur the away side into action and Matthews made up for his miss just two minutes later with a thunderous shot from the edge of the box after an excellent first touch that saw him break free of his marker. Sundowns suffered a blow on 22 minutes when Malibongwe Khoza picked up an injury and was replaced by Grant Kekana - and the replacement defender was in on the action almost immediately as he cleared a dangerous cross from the left-hand side as Stars broke forward down the flank.

The home team were proving a handful for Downs with their strong running, with chances few and far between in the opening period. Sundowns' next opportunity fell to Mudau on 19 minutes but his first touch, from a Shalulile cut-back, was loose and the shooting opportunity was lost.

Obassa then made a fine save to keep out a powerful Reisinho header from Marcelo Allende's slick free-kick.

Shalilule was looking bright though and fully deserved his goal, after some poor defending by Stars that allowed the striker to get on the ball and fire an unstoppable shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

The away side ended the first half in control of the tie and started the second period in a similar fashion.

Mudau showed good pace to burst forward to beat several defenders and look to set up Nuno Santos, but the Remo defence recovered in time to clear the danger.

Obassa then had to come off his line quickly to thwart a Matthews effort, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Reisinho from tapping home at the far post on 61 minutes after a superb run and low cross from Mudau.

With the result wrapped up, Sundowns boss Miguel Cardoso introduced Sales and Kutlwano Letlhaku for Reisinho and Matthews, and it took Sales just minutes to add his name to the scoresheet with a comfortable finish following a neat lay up from Santos.

A brief lapse in concentration allowed Stars to get a goal back as Olasupo cut inside his man and fired his shot past Ronwen Williams at his near post.

But Sundowns were back in control minutes later as Downs youngster came off the bench to tap home a Lebo Mothiba cross and hand his side a significant advantage over their Nigerian opponents as they eye their place in the tournament proper.

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