After Mamelodi Sundowns became the first African side to register a victory at this year's edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, Soccer Laduma looks at five major talking points from the game.
Iqraam Rayners' solitary strike in the first half secured all three points against Ulsan, taking the Tshwane giants to the top of Group F after matchday one. Here are the five major talking points from the match which was played in Orlando, USA.
Zwane still has a big role to play
Captain Themba Zwane started a match for the first time under Miguel Cardoso and showed why he probably should have been given some minutes in the CAF Champions League final. In the 75 minutes he was on the pitch, the Bafana Bafana international looked lively, getting himself into the right spaces and playing some cheeky passes in between the lines as Sundowns kept putting Ulsan under pressure. After the performance, Zwane could get more opportunities to start.
Cupido raises his hand
Cupido has struggled to get into the starting line-up since joining Sundowns in January, so his inclusion from the start was a big surprise for many. On the big stage, the former Cape Town City man did not disappoint, contributing immensely to the clean sheet. He made an important clearance in the dying stages of the game as Sundowns held on doggedly for the victory which put them top of the table ahead of Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense. Cupido certainly made a mark and will give Cardoso lots to think about going forward.
Lunga makes strong case at left back
Zimbabwean international Divine Lunga got the nod to start ahead of Aubrey Modiba at left back and made the most of the situation. Solid in defence, Lunga was able to contain the threat of Ulsan from his side and got forward on numerous occasions. Lunga proved yet again that he can do the job whenever called upon by Cardoso and may have even done enough to get the nod for the next match against Dortmund. Khuliso Mudau also had a solid shift at right back.
Mothiba an interesting option
Cardoso brought big striker Lebo Mothiba on in the final 15 minutes of the game and he could have got his name on the score sheet had he taken an opportunity he got after a well-worked move by Sundowns towards the end of the game. In the few minutes he got, Mothiba was able to unsettle the opposition defenders and get himself into good spaces in the box. He will definitely be an option for Cardoso, especially with his experience.
Not just adding numbers
Sundowns made it clear that they are not at the Club World Cup to add numbers. They dominated possession against Ulsan, passing the ball around comfortably as they found spaces to manoeuvre in the opposition half. The Tshwane giants, however, will probably be disappointed at the fact they did not score more and could have conceded late on. Cardoso will need to ensure that they can kill off matches or they could be punished against superior opponents.
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