Mamelodi Sundowns comfortably dispatched Maniema Union 2-0 on Sunday afternoon to secure a spot in the CAF Champions League group stages.
Sundowns recalled Themba Zwane, Rivaldo Coetzee, Lyle Lakay and Grant Kekana from midweek win over Arrows for this all important clash.
As expected, the Brazilians were on the ascendancy in the opening exchanges and they came very close to going ahead in the seventh minute after Peter Shalulile’s header from a corner was cleared off the goal-line by the defender.
Maniema were trying to cage the rampaging and dominant hosts but it was a sublime free-kick from Lakay that gave the South African champions the lead midway through the first half.
It was clearly one way traffic from thereon as Sundowns camped around the Congolese side’s half as Thabiso Kutumela was presented with a big chance to double his side’s their lead just before half-time, but he missed it despite having the empty goal post at his mercy, by hitting the side netting.
The visitors managed to create a chance of their own after the break as Denis Onyango was forced into an early save, but their goalkeeper made a costly error eight minutes inside the second half after he spilled a cross from Lakay and Shalulile pounced to give his side a two-lead.
After doubling their lead, Masandawana were controlling possession and reduced their attacking momentum. Maniema nearly pulled a goal back in the final 18 minutes after a looping effort from the left back struck the side-netting.
Sundowns made a double attacking change in the last quarter of an hour, as Kermit Erasmus replaced Kutumela for fresh legs upfront and Neo Maema came on for Shalulile, in a tactical tweak.
The Brazilians were comfortable in the end, as they reached the group stages while Maniema will have a second chance in the CAF Confederation Cup play-off round.