Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa put on a dominant display to thrash Sparta Rotterdam of the Netherlands 4-1 in an international friendly on Saturday.
The match was played at Sparta’s home stadium, the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel, in Rotterdam.
Sundowns took the lead in the 23rd minute through Peter Shalulile, who scored his 12th goal in 11 matches for the club this season.
Shalulile doubled Sundowns’ lead in the 35th minute, and Leonardo Castro made it 3-0 in the 57th minute.
Sparta pulled a goal back through Ibrahim Affo in the 76th minute, but Sundowns restored their three-goal lead through Aubrey Modiba in the 81st minute.
The win was a major statement of intent from Sundowns, who are the defending champions of the PSL.
The South African side will be looking to build on this performance when they begin their title defense.
Shalulile stars for Sundowns
Peter Shalulile was the star of the show for Sundowns, scoring two goals and setting up another.
The 28-year-old striker is one of the most prolific goalscorers in Africa, and he is sure to be a key player for Sundowns in their quest to defend their CAF Champions League title.
Sparta Rotterdam disappointed
Sparta Rotterdam manager Henk Fraser was disappointed with his team’s performance in the loss to Mamelodi Sundowns.
“We didn’t play well today,” Fraser said. “We gave away too many easy chances, and we were punished for it.”
Fraser said that he was still confident that his team could have a good season, but that they would need to improve their performance if they wanted to challenge for silverware.
“We have a good team,” Fraser said. “But we need to start playing better if we want to achieve our goals.”
Sundowns fans optimistic
Mamelodi Sundowns fans were delighted with their team’s performance against Sparta Rotterdam, and they are already looking ahead to the CAF Champions League.
“We are the defending champions, and we want to win the trophy again this year,” said one fan. “We have a good team, and I think we can do it.”
Another fan said that he was confident that Sundowns would be able to defend their title.
“We have a lot of experience in the competition, and we know what it takes to win,” he said. “I think we will be very tough to beat.”
The CAF Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in Africa, and Sundowns will be looking to add to their trophy case when they compete in the tournament this year.
