Iqraam Rayners scored at the FIFA Club World Cup to put Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of the log and beat Ulsan HD FC. Image: Mamelodi Sundowns shared via X @Masandawana.
(The Post News– Mamelodi Sundowns, the club with the shortest squad in the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC), has bagged its first win in the competition, beating Ulsan HD FC 1-0. The South African-based football club played its first game of the tournament against the South Korean club on June 18 at the Inter & CO Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring record in the first half, with his two goals—at 31 minutes and 39 minutes—denied by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Meanwhile, in the 36th minute, he netted a standing goal, giving Masandawana a lead.
After Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense drew 0-0 earlier, the South African team won Group F in front of 3,412 spectators. The match between Sundowns and Ulsan was one of the less appealing group matches in the enlarged FIFA event, which hasn’t been able to fill stadiums for every game thus far and had its kickoff postponed by slightly over an hour due to a weather warning. Those present, however, were witnesses to a fierce conflict. Earlier in June, Sundowns, led by Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, finished as runners-up in the CAF Champions League final despite winning the South African top division for eight straight seasons.
Cardoso described the first half as “beautiful” as they were in control. He expressed pride over the players’ efforts, noting that they did a “wonderful job” being the only African team to win in the tournament thus far.
Meanwhile, after an injury in September, Cardoso gave Themba Zwane his first start against Ulsan, who advanced via the AFC Confederation rankings. Known as “The Brazilians” due to their vivid yellow uniforms that resembled those of the five-time World Cup champions, Sundowns players displayed some flair with the ball in the first few minutes of play.
Eric Farias missed a beautiful chance barely over the angle of post and bar; Ulsan should have taken the lead. When Raymond bundled home from a corner after the break, Masandawana believed they had grabbed the lead, but the ball went in off his arm and was disallowed.
But after Lucas Ribeiro set him up, the South Africa international was unstoppable and strode his team forward. Before halftime, Rayners continued to chip away at Ulsan’s defence and had another goal disallowed for offside.
Jo Hyeon-woo deflected Teboho Mokoena’s dipping free-kick attempt, nearly doubling Mamelodi’s advantage. In an attempt to equalise, the South Koreans advanced in the second half and drove Mamelodi back into their own zone. Mamelodi became the first African team to win a tournament match despite Tashreeq Matthews breaking loose on the counter and putting a decent chance over the bar.
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