CAF CL: Turbo-Charged Mailula Inspire Downs to victory over Cotonsport

Cassius Mailula scored a double and assisted Thapelo Morena for another which helped Sundowns to consecutive wins in the TotalEnergies CAF champions league at the Roumde Adjia stadium this evening. Sundowns defeated Cotonsport 3-1 on the road and they look unstoppable with an extension of their winning streak to 16 games.

Downs’ stardust Casius Mailula opened scoring after a sloppy back pass from Cotonsport’s center-half Goni Ali. 21-year-old Mailula made no mistake as he angled the ball past Allambatnam, 10 minutes after the start of the game.

Rhulani Mokwena made a couple of changes in the game principally due to injuries. The tactician didn’t start Peter Shalulile who was struggling with fitness, and indeed, he started the game with no out-and-out striker. It wasn’t a problem for the South African representatives, because all that Cotonsport did was shoot themselves in the foot. After a first howler by Goni Ali, a queue of defensive blunders which started with Eno Brandon’s inability to read the game and sniff out the danger costed the Garoua-based club.

The ball kindly ricocheted off bodies and fell for Cassius who had the awareness and presence of mind to put through Morena. The 29-year-old Reinfontein-born striker forced the ball across the goal line despite attempts from Che Malone to come back and recover.

The deafening noise at the 25,000 capacity Roumde Adjia dropped at that point, and a pin’s drop could be heard.

Cotonsport grew from their stage fright to match Sundowns in a good spell of their own from the 19th-30rd minute mark.

Intermediate Lions wideman Ramses Domfack struck the upright from Hassana’s delivery at the 21st minute. The winger’s header had Ronwen Williams beaten but the woodwork came to the rescue of Masandawa.

Allambatnam was called to action at the 24th minute from a long range drive by Teboho Mokoena but the keeper parried away for a corner kick.

Cotonsport regained momentum. Teenage sensation Patient Wassou probed his way in from the shoulders of Mothobi Mvala and Kekana unperturbed before receiving a perfectly weighted ball from Djawal Kaiba. With Williams off his line, Wassou drilled low, true and hard beyond the well advanced keeper for 2-1 on the half hour mark.

Coach Agbor Ernest in a bid to change the game’s complexion and prolly get an equaliser took out Eno Brandon and replaced him with Materne Mekong.

Just when the hosts had real hopes of an equaliser, a quick change of pace, and vicious strike for Mailula at the cusp of halftime (43rd minute) made it game-set-and-match for Downs, as the game was won and lost in the first half from Cotonsport’s perspective. It was Mailula’s 3rd goal in the TotalEnergies CAF champions league.

Mamelodi Sundowns came back from the break with a cautious approach despite early dominance from Cotonsport.

On the hour mark, goalkeeper Williams pulled off a delightful save after Mvala uncharacteristically, nearly turned the ball into his own net from Hassana’s cross.

Downs had chances that fell to Johnson Mudau who hit the bar at the 73rd minute and Mkhulise later balooned over the net at the 82nd minute but all those could be forgiven, with no change to the 3-1 scoreline.

Sundowns are clear on top of group B with 6 points after two wins against Hilal and Cotonsport. Al Hilal separated in an all parity (0-0) against Egyptiay.