It was a victory delivered by their foreign players and with some ease in the end, as they dominated possession and chances and were fully deserving of the win.
Sundowns’ opener inside five minutes was a Portuguese one-two. Miguel Reisinho launched an excellent long ball into the box, and Nuno Santos beat the offside trap to volley the ball into the back of the net for his first goal for the Brazilians.
It was a magic pass and a deft touch from Santos. That is the kind of quality Sundowns were looking for when bringing the pair to the club.
Lupopo had barely launched an attack all game but were level a minute before halftime. Keanu Cupido allowed a cross from the right, and Wanet Kashala steered the ball goalwards, with home goalkeeper Ronwen Williams unable to keep it out.
It was a real sucker punch for the hosts, who had dominated every facet of the game but conceded the first time they were asked a question in defence.
There was some more South American magic for Sundowns as they regained the lead on the hour mark. Santos and Reisinho were both involved in the build-up before Chilean Marcelo Allende produced a pinpoint shot from the edge of the box that crept into the right-hand corner of the net.
It is his first Champions League goal since he scored in a famous 5-2 win for Sundowns against Al Ahly in March 2023.
Sundowns have paid a lot of money to bring in their foreign-born players, but we are seeing their quality start to shine.
Homegrown Tashreeq Matthews created space on the left, and his pass inside the box was collected by Brazilian Arthur Sales. The latter turned and hung a superb cross on the edge of the six-yard box, and Santos met it perfectly with a header that had the beating of goalkeeper Simon Omossola.
These are Santos’ first goals since he netted in the Portuguese top flight for Vitoria Guimarães against Arouca in January.
Sundowns next head to Algeria for a Champions League clash with MC Alger and a reunion with former coach Rulani Mokwena, who is now in charge of the North African side.
MC Alger lost their pool opener away at Sudanese side Al Hilal in neutral Rwanda and will be desperate for a win with two rounds of the Champions League played ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and teams then having to wait until late January to be back in action. It would be a huge boost for Sundowns to go into that break with two wins.
