Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on Saturday thrashed Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Champions Lobi Stars of Makurdi 3-0 in a CAF Champions’ League group game played in Pretoria.
Goals by Thapelo Morena, Themba Zwane and Lebohang Maboe not only saw Mamelodi Sundowns exact revenge on Lobi Stars courtesy of a 3-0 win, but also confirmed their place in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Lobi Stars had defeated South Africas Mamelodi 2-1 in the CAF Champions League group stage opener at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.
The Nigerian team fought back from a goal down to win the first Group A game.
With a place in the next round of the competition at stake, Sundowns hosted Lobi Stars in the penultimate game in Group A at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
NAN reports that Sundowns headed into the game level on points with Wydad Casablanca and Asec Mimosas on seven, but a win was enough to book their passage into the knockout round.
On the other hand, Lobi Stars were fighting for their lives in the competition and were looking to do something they have not done so far in the 2019 edition of the tournament – win a game away from home.
As expected, both teams were going for the kill and Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane asserted this by naming an attacking line-up filled with experience.
Ricardo Nascimento and Wayne Arendse returned to the starting XI after sitting out their side’s domestic clash against Cape Town City on Tuesday. However, it was upfront where Sundowns looked to make a statement from the onset.
Having netted 23.5 percent of their goals within the first 15 minutes, Sundowns added to that statistic as Morena, who was another one of the Tshwane giant’s returnees, broke the deadlock with two minutes played.
Gaston Sirino subsequently registered his third assist of the tournament as he played a splendid ball into the path of the full-back, who made no mistake from close range in the 38th minute.
Mamelodi Sundowns had Lobi Stars under the crush thereafter as they looked to give themselves a cushion and Anthony Laffor forced Lobi Stars’ keeper Olufemi Kayode into one of many saves on the night, this time courtesy of the Liberian’s rasping effort from range.
Meanwhile, another one of the Tshwane giant’s changes coming into the game was Denis Onyango, who returned from a hamstring injury.
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The Ugandan did not have to wait long to be in the thick of things as he produced a fantastic save to deny Alimi Sikiru, who had scored two goals for Lobi Stars prior to the game.
The first half certainly lived up to the hype and expectations as both sides were having a real go at each other.
Mamelodi Sundowns though looked comfortable and were turning on their trademark attacking brand of football.
A breakthrough came for them as Lobi Stars were guilty of a mistake at the back and Zwane took full advantage grabbing his fifth goal of the campaign in the 38th minute.
Maboe joined in on the party with a goal of his own following the restart, putting Sundowns firmly in the driving seat heading into the break.
To Lobi Stars’ credit they did not give up without a fight even having several half-chances deep into the second half as they looked for a consolation goal in order to avoid registering their fifth game without a goal in the competition.