Mamelodi Sundowns began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in dramatic fashion, defeating South Korea’s Ulsan HD 1-0 to seize the top spot in their group. The victory, secured at the Inter & Co Stadium on Tuesday night (early Wednesday morning in South Africa), was powered by a solitary strike from Iqraam Rayners and a heroic late-game clearance by Keano Cupido.
The result puts the South African champions in pole position after the group’s other heavyweights, Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense, played to a draw on U.S. soil.
Rayners Delivers, VAR Denies Twice
Rayners netted the game’s only legal goal in the 36th minute, capitalizing on a stunning through-ball from playmaker Lucas Ribeiro. The Cape Town-born striker coolly toe-poked the ball past Ulsan keeper HW Cho, earning himself the Superior Man of the Match accolade.
Despite scoring just once officially, Rayners had the ball in the net two more times during the first half. However, both efforts were disallowed following VAR interventions. The first, following a near-post corner from Ribeiro, was ruled out for handball. Minutes later, another sublime link-up between Ribeiro and Rayners was chalked off for a marginal offside.
While Rayners stole the spotlight in attack, it was defender Keano Cupido who played saviour at the back. In the dying minutes, Ulsan nearly equalized after beating goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, but Cupido sprinted back and lunged full stretch to clear the ball off the line, denying an onrushing Ulsan striker a sure tap-in.
The moment carried poetic weight—his father, Greg Cupido, had scored a famous own goal in the 1986 Mainstay Cup final that handed Sundowns a victory over Jomo Cosmos. This time, it was the son preserving a Sundowns win in equally dramatic fashion.
Fast Start Despite Weather Delays
The kickoff was delayed by over an hour due to lightning risks, but Sundowns emerged undeterred. Within 23 seconds, Arthur Sales forced an early clearance, with appeals for a handball ignored by the referee.
Sundowns dominated the opening phases, albeit with moments of overconfidence. A risky approach saw Themba Zwane—surprisingly reinstated after missing the CAF Champions League final—concede a dangerous free kick. Fortunately for the Brazilians, Ulsan’s Derjan Bojanic failed to capitalize.
As the first half progressed, the attacking duo of Ribeiro and Rayners constantly threatened the Ulsan backline. Their understanding was electric, unlocking the defense multiple times with clinical movement and pinpoint passes. Rayners’ legal goal was a deserved reward for their persistence.
Teboho Mokoena nearly doubled the lead with a curling free-kick just before halftime, but Cho parried it away. A late scare in the half saw Divine Lunga head clear a lobbed effort that had Williams beaten.
Historic Win for Mamelodi Sundowns
While Sundowns had several opportunities to close out the game earlier, they held firm through disciplined defense and resilient teamwork. Their ability to weather Ulsan’s late surge and secure three points underlined their growth on the global stage.
This win places Mamelodi Sundowns atop the group standings—a significant achievement against seasoned international competition, and a powerful statement of intent in their Club World Cup journey.
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