Mamelodi Sundowns cruised to the CAF Champions League group stages with a 15-1 aggregate win, after thrashing Le Passe FC 8-1 on Friday evening.
CAF Champions League
Halftime: Mamelodi Sundowns 8-1 La Passe FC (15-1 on aggregate)
Date: 14 October 2022
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Reyaad Pieterse got the nod between the sticks as Denis Onyango was left out of the squad, while Bongani Zungu and Cassius Mailula earned starts after coming off the bench in the first leg.
Sundowns got the breakthrough on seven minutes when Gaston Sirino picked out an un-marked Thapelo Morena who controlled on his chest before firing home from close range.
The home side enjoyed a lot possession from the onset but other than Morena's first goal, they had to wait until the 27th minute for their next opening as Lebohang Maboe saw his strike deflect onto the upright.
The young Mailula was a constant threat in the final third but he should have doubled the lead three minutes later when he was picked out Maboe at the far post but he was unable to fire past goalkeeper Dave Mussard.
However, the hosts were stunned into silence nine minutes before the break when Florent Rajaoniasy sent a powerful header past Pieterse at the far post for their first goal in the tie.
La Passe's joy was short-lived though, as Sundowns restored their lead a minute later when Mailula got his first senior goal with a clever back-heeled finish from Mkhulise's cross.
There was enough time for Sundowns to grab a third goal on the stroke of halftime, with Mailula completing his brace by cushioning home a cross from six yards out to make it 10-1 on aggregate.
The home side made a triple change eight minutes after the interval with the midweek action coming up, as Neo Maema, Haashim Domingo and Surprise Ralani entering the pitch.
Gift Motupa and Morrocan defender Abdelnaim Boutouil came with 25 minutes left on the clock, with the latter making his official debut for the South African champions.
It didn't take too long for Motupa to impose himself on proceedings, as he opened his account for the season in the 70th minute with a cracking finish after being picked out by Maema.
The fifth goal arrived six minutes later when fellow substitute Domingo volleyed home a cross from Morena despite the best efforts from Mussard on the line.
Sundowns showed no signs of slowing down after that as a ball over the top found Mosa Lebusa who unselfishly teed up Maema, who took one touch before firing in at the near post to make it 6-1 on the night.
Mailula continued the rout for the Brazilians by volleying a home powerful strike, although it will down as an own goal as the well in off the Le Passe shot-stopper.
However, Motupa had the final say on the nigh as the substitute completed his brace to make 8-1 on the night and 15-1 on aggregate as Sundowns become the only South African side to advance to the group stages.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Pieterse, Lebusa, Mvala, Morena, Modiba, Zungu, Mailula, Maboe, Mkhulise, Sirino, Allende
Subs: Mweene, Kutumela, Boutouil, Jali, Motupa, Domingo, Mudau, Ralani, Maema
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