Mamelodi Sundowns started their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Ulsan HD in Orlando.
Masandawana restored key figures to the starting line-up, captain Themba Zwane, Keanu Cupido, Divine Lunga and Arthur Sales.
The encounter didn’t kick-off on time and was delayed for an hour due to adverse weather conditions around the venue.
When the clash did get underway, Sundowns were fortunate not to go behind eight minutes in when Erick fired narrowly over the top corner following a first-time cross right of the area.
Masandawana made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark through Iqraam Rayners from a corner, but it was disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) as the forward used his hand on-route to scoring.
Rayners got his reward five minutes later as he beat the offside trap to get onto Lucas Ribeiro’s through pass and side-footed into the bottom-corner.
The forward netted again two minutes later when he got space wide of the area and tucked in another through-ball from Ribeiro, but it was disallowed for offside by VAR.
Sundowns lead came under threat a minute to halftime and needed a last-gasp goal-line clearance from Lunga to remain in the clear with Ronwen Williams off his line.
Ulsan did come out firing after the break, but Sundowns nearly added a second goal as Ribeiro came short to the area to draw a cutback and curled narrowly over the top.
The South African champions refreshed personnel midway in the second stanza and introduced Tashreeq Matthews in the place of Sales.
While the South Korean side didn’t give up hope in the closing stages, Sundowns closed all corridors in the final third and in the end bagged a tournament opening win in the Club World Cup.
The win takes Sundowns top of Group F.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Cupido, Lunga, Mokoena, Allende, Zwane, Sales, Rayners, Ribeiro
Subs: Onyango, Khoza, Modiba, Adams, Maema, Aubaas, Letlhaku, Matthews, Mkhulise, Pieterse, Mndunyelwa, Mvala, Mothiba, Shalulile
