Nuno Santos, 2 Bafana Bafana Stars Who Impressed in Mamelodi Sundowns Win Over Al Ahli
- Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Al-Ahli Saudi at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, claiming a spot in the next round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup
- Nuno Santos scored twice to lead the Brazilians past a star-studded Al-Ahli side featuring Ivan Toney, Francisco Trincão and Édouard Mendy
- A football analyst, during an exclusive interview with Briefly News, named three Sundowns players who stood out during the historic win
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Mamelodi Sundowns launched their FIFA Intercontinental Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over Al-Ahli Saudi at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, also claiming the FIFA African-Asian Pacific Cup in the process.
Portuguese winger Nuno Santos delivered a match-winning display, heading home twice, once in each half, to settle the tie against an Al-Ahli squad that included England international Ivan Toney, Portuguese winger Francisco Trincão, and former Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.
3 Sundowns stars who caught the eye
Football analyst Uche Anuma, speaking exclusively to Briefly News after the final whistle, highlighted three Sundowns players who elevated their performances to meet the occasion.
"Mamelodi Sundowns did well against the Saudi League side and Asian champions, but three players stood out for me during the game," Anuma said.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Santos was the first name on his list:
"Nuno Santos is obviously the best player in the game, and he showed he can deliver for Sundowns when needed against top players; his two goals were so important to win the tie for the Brazilians," the analyst noted.
South African midfielder Teboho Mokoena earned the second mention. According to Anuma, Mokoena combined defensive solidity in the middle of the park with a goal contribution, registering an assist during the contest.
Debutant Matuludi impresses on biggest stage
Thabang Matuludi completed Anuma's trio after making his senior debut for the Brazilians. The youngster capped a confident first outing by setting up Santos' second header, suggesting he is ready to compete at the highest level.
"Thabang Matuludi made his debut for the Brazilians, and he showed loads of signs that he was ready to play with the big boys, he eventually capped off the performance with an assist for Santos' second goal," Anuma said.
The analyst signed off by expressing his hopes for what lies ahead for Sundowns in the competition.
"I wish Sundowns all the best in their next game, because I really want to see them face Paris Saint-Germain in the final," he added.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
