Mamelodi Sundowns Dominate Remo Stars with a Convincing 5-1 Victory in Abeokuta
In a commanding display on Sunday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns overwhelmed Nigerian champions Remo Stars with a resounding 5-1 triumph during the first leg of their CAF Champions League second-round preliminary encounter.
From the outset, the Sundowns, who reached the final in last season’s tournament, imposed their superior quality and tactical discipline, quickly taking control of the match.
The breakthrough came early, in the 12th minute, when Matthews seized upon a defensive lapse to expertly finish a precise pass from Themba Zwane, putting the visitors ahead.
Despite the pressure, Remo Stars’ goalkeeper Adebiyi Obassa showcased his agility with a remarkable diving save in the 38th minute, denying a powerful header from a set-piece opportunity.
Nevertheless, the home side struggled to generate meaningful scoring chances. Forward Alex Oyowah missed a rare opportunity to capitalize on a mistake by Sundowns’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, leaving Remo Stars unable to reduce the deficit before halftime.
Just before the break, Sundowns extended their lead. A precise long ball from Williams found Peter Shalulile, who used his strength to outmaneuver defender Anthony Ebuka and calmly slotted the ball past Obassa, making it 2-0.
The second half saw Sundowns maintain their relentless pressure. In the 61st minute, Reisinho finished a swift counter-attack with clinical precision to increase the lead. Later, in the 74th minute, Arthur Sales netted the fourth goal, completing a brilliant team move orchestrated by Nuno.
Remo Stars briefly lifted spirits in the 76th minute when Samson Olasupo struck a powerful low shot from outside the box, assisted by Adama Goita, offering a consolation goal to the home supporters.
However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 84th minute. Teboho Ntsabeleng capitalized on a midfield turnover and calmly converted to restore Sundowns’ four-goal cushion, sealing a comprehensive 5-1 victory.
This heavy loss places Remo Stars in a daunting position ahead of the second leg in Pretoria next weekend, where they face an uphill battle to overturn the significant deficit and secure progression to the group stages.