Sundowns are on there way to match their own record of finishing the CAF champions league group stages. Without having any defeat and they are probably on the way headed for their 2nd title.
Following their historic 2-1 victory over TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Saturday. All three teams in group B were defeated by the Brazilians. With other victories against Al-Hilal and CR belouizdad seeing them with nine points and one foot in the knockout stage.
During the last season Sundowns became the first team in SA to finish the champions league group stages without facing any defeat.
Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi was pleased with the famous victory away, after achieving that playing with ten men following Ricardo Nascimento’s red card in the second half.
“Fortunately, this season we had this situation before where we were losing 1-0 away from home [against Black Leopards] in the league and we played with 10 men,” Mngqithi told the media after the game.
“We ended up winning the match 2-1 because we always prepare for such eventualities. We know in a game of football, more especially in the CAF Champions League you can get a red card out of nothing.”
Mngqithi also said that the absence of the fans in the stadium due to covid 19 adds to his historic win.
“First, one should thank Covid-19 because, with your supporters, it is always different,” Mngqithi said.
“When your stadium is full, you always give a good account of yourself. The fact that we played maybe with not so full a stadium might have helped. But I must also not take credit away from the team. I think we were prepared for this encounter.
“We knew that we were playing against a good team but our confidence is very high. I think we have played probably 23 matches now and we’ve not lost a game this season. Which is also a good account of the team and the way we are preparing. The boys fought very hard, I must say. There were circumstances in the game that were very difficult for the boys.”
On March 16 Sundowns will host mazembe in Pretoria, in the return match.