CAF CL: Sundowns edge Cotonsport to register second victory

Mamelodi Sundowns made it two wins in two matches in Group A of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League with an impressive 3-1 victory away to Cameroon’s Cotonsport in Garoua on Friday.

In-form Cassius Mailula was the star man for Sundowns with a brace and an assist, scoring either side of Thapelo Morena’s brilliant goal.

Patient Gouegoue Wassou scored the consolation for the home side, who were playing their first match in the group stage.

The South Africans raced into a 2-0 lead within the opening 11 minutes, scoring twice in two minutes.

Mailula scored the opener after nine minutes, his second consecutive goal in as many matches, and his 11th in all competitions.

The forward intercepted a sideways pass from Cotonsport defender Youssoufa Houzaifi before shooting low into the bottom right. Two minutes later, he set up Mailula for a second but the goal came off a brilliant team play.

Khuliso Mudau sent Mailula through on the right, the latter cutting back a cross which Morena back-heeled into the net.

The hosts almost halved the deficit after 20 minutes but Enock Djidjiwa saw his header come off the post.

They however drew one back on the half-hour mark when they turned over possession in midfield with Djawal Kaiba sending Wassou through on goal, the 19-year old scoring with a neat low shot.

But, Sundowns restored their two-goal margin, Mailula completing his brace two minutes to the break with a low finish past the keeper after racing to an Aubrey Modiba defense splitting pass.

In the second half, Sundowns continued to dominate and had the best of chances, Mudau’s shot from a cutback coming off the outside of the post while Sphelele Mkhulise blasted over one on one with the keeper.

The home side almost pulled one back in added time, but Kaiba’s shot from range was turned behind by Ronwen Williams.

With the victory, Sundowns are comfortably on top of the group with six points.