Mamelodi Sundowns laid down a marker on their ambition for a second continental title after earning a massive 4-1 away victory over Algeria’s CR Belouizdad on Saturday night in the first-leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final clash.
Peter Shalulile put up a brilliant performance with two goals and an assist for Neo Maema while Cassius Mailula added a late fourth as Masandawana left North Africa with a resounding victory.
The win in Algiers eases pressure on their shoulders ahead of the return fixture in Pretoria next weekend.
The South Africans stamped their authority right from the start and they broke the deadlock after just six minutes when Shalulile powered home a header from the edge of the six yard box off an Aubrey Modiba cross.
The Namibian hotshot turned from scorer to provider in the 20th minute as Sundowns doubled their lead, cutting back a cross into the area that Maema thumped home with a powerful side-footed shot.
At the stroke of half-time, Miloud Rebiai restored some hope for the home side when he headed into the net from a corner, halving the deficit and giving themselves a fighting chance in the second-half.
However, things didn’t go to plan as it was Sundowns who would extend their lead, Shalulile doubling his tally for the night with a goal six minutes from the restart.
The goal seemingly killed off Belouizdad’s hopes of a comeback as Sundowns dominated much of the play.
On form Mailula would seal the victory with the fourth goal in the second minute of added time, a strike that put Downs one foot into the last four.
Source: CAF Online
