Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns hammered Seychelles side La Passé in the CAF Champions League at Loftus Versfeld stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Gaston Sirino netted a brace, while Grant Kekana, Sipho Mbule, Siphelele Mkhulise, Aubrey scored a goal each in addition to Jupitor’s own goal.
Sundowns went into the encounter as clear favourites to win, and they stamped their authority as early as the first minute as they scored via Kekana.
Sirino made it 2-0 in the 13th minute before Jupitor scored an own goal to give Sundowns a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Modiba added a fourth of the afternoon for Sundowns in the 40th minute before Sirino completed his brace on the stroke of half-time.
It was game over for La Passe going into the second half as they were trailing Sundowns by five goals.
Sundowns netted two answered goals in the second half with Mbule getting his first for the club in the 59th minute.
Mkhulise made it a seven for Sundowns with an 87th minute goal to ensure that they are cruising going into the return leg.
Sundowns will also play the second leg against La Passe at Loftus Versfeld in a week’s time – a quirk of the tournament that sets them on track for a hefty aggregate score.
Although an easy victory, they will have to build on this momentum going into the group stages of the tournament, if they want to win it and end a six-year continental drought.
The closest Sundowns have come to winning the crown since their triumph in 2016 was in 2018, when they finished as semi-finalists.
Meanwhile Royal AM played to a goalless draw against Zesco United in the Confederation Cup of the second round at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday afternoon.