CAF Champions League
Full Time: Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Rayon Sports (2-0 on aggregate)
Date: 18 March 2018
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns moved into the group stages of the CAF Champions League after beating Rayon Sports 2-0 in a second leg qualifying match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday night.
The win, combined with the 0-0 draw in the first leg, sees the Brazilians win 2-0 on aggregate.
The visitors got off to a flying start and almost scored in the fifth minute when a loose ball fell to Shaban Hussen 16-yards out, but he saw his thunderous drive superbly stopped by Sundowns keeper Denis Onyango.
Sundowns quickly found their rhythm after that and should have taken the lead in the 19th minute when Themba Zwane worked his way into the box from the left and squared for Gaston Sirino, who fired over from just yards out.
A minute later, Percy Tau came within inches of finding the back of the net but his 22-yard curling effort shaved the wrong side of the post.
Sundowns were rewarded for their pressure in the 34th minute when Wayne Arendse volleyed home from six-yards out after meeting a pin-point corner-kick from Tau, 1-0.
In the 39th minute, Tau was afforded the perfect chance to double his side's lead when he broke behind the Rayon defence, but he was brilliantly denied in a one-on-one with the keeper.
Sundowns took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Brazilians continued to pile on the pressure after the break and found their second goal 10 minutes into the second half when a long-range shot from Sirino was pushed onto the crossbar by the keeper, but Sibusiso Vilakazi was quickest to react as he headed home the rebound, 2-0.
In the 67th minute, Tau should have put the result beyond doubt when Sirino slipped him through on goal, but again the former was thwarted in a one-on-one with the keeper.
Rayon threw players forward after that as they tried to find their way back into the match, but the Sundowns defence stood firm.
The match ended on a rather sour note for Rayon who saw Caleb Bimenyimana shown a red card in the 92nd minute after a dangerous tackle.
In the end, it was a rather comfortable 2-0 win for Sundowns.
Here is how they line up.
Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 27. Morena, 16. Nascimento, 6. Arendse, 4. Langerman. 13. Mabunda, 8. Kekana, 18. Zwane, 5. Sirino (7. Manyisa 83'), 11. Vilakazi (25. Ngoma 81'), 22. Tau (19. Brockie 89').
Subs: 30. Brimah, 19. Brockie, 7. Manyisa, 23. Madisha, 28. Laffor, 24. Zulu. 25. Ngoma.
Rayon Sports: 1. Ndayishimiye, 3. Rutanga, 4. Manzi, 5. Mutfinzi, 6. Mukunzi, 9. Mbondi (20. Ismaila 77'), 11. Hussen, 15. Usengimana, 16. Nyandwi (7. Bimenyimana 66'). 23. Kwizera, 25. Mugisha (8. Muhire 62').
Subs: 29. Ndacyayisenga, 2. Mugabo, 7. Bimenyimana, 8. Muhire, 17. Irambona, 20. Ismaila, 21. Niyonzima.
