Having last been in action over three weeks ago, Mamelodi Sundowns could have been forgiven for making a slow start to the Club World Cup, but instead it was the perfect start to their campaign at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday.
The match actually took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning SA time, after a delayed start to the clash due to thunderstorms.
Sundowns beat South Korean outfit Ulsan HD 1-0 courtesy of a 36th-minute goal from Iqraam Rayners.
Sundowns’ previous match was the CAF Champions League final second leg on June 1 against Pyramids, as the Egyptians lifted the trophy. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso was a relieved man after the final whistle.
Sundowns Secure Victory and Top Group F with ‘Strategic Preparation and Team Commitment’
“It’s not easy to achieve victories. It was a long way until this moment. I think today we released a lot of energy, in the right way, before, during and after [the game],” said Cardoso.
“We lived the right emotions. The team found the right place to start the match. We prepared it very well tactically and strategically.”
No longer the big fish in a small pond following their eighth consecutive league title in the Betway Premiership in South Africa, Sundowns as an African team is not expected to progress far in this competition.
However, with their win Sundowns top Group F after Fluminese and Borussia Dortmund played out to a goalless draw earlier that day.
Cardoso continued with the high praise for his charges.
“Then we found the commitment from everybody that was important for us to win it, playing to the level of preparation we had.
“It was clear we had a wonderful first half. It was important we kept the pace and kept to the game plan so we could score the second and [it was only through] the little details and matters of centimetres we could not do it.”
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
