Mamelodi Sundowns boosted themselves into top spot in Group B of the CAF Champions League after the South African powerhouse defeated Morocco's Raja CA on Sunday. Iqraam Rayners scored the only goal of the match in the second half with a precise finish, moving Sundowns past incumbent leaders AS FAR with a superior goal difference. Raja continue to struggle at the bottom of the group with only one point from three matches.
There was plenty of pressure on Sundowns to deliver at home under new head coach Miguel Cardoso but fortunately Masandawana were facing a Raja team low on confidence. The first half showed evidence that the South African champions are still finding their stride under the Portuguese tactician but they dominated possession and kept Raja from posing any attacking threat.
The opportunities began to arrive in numbers early in the second half and a brilliant team movement in the 65th minute saw Sundowns rewarded. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams collected a back pass and unloaded a brilliant line drive punt to put Kutlwano Lethlaku behind the Raja defense on the right wing. The youngster's low cross found Rayners at the edge of the area for a low shot that hit the post and went in on its way by Raja keeper Anas Zniti. Rayners has scored in his last three matches for Sundowns.
Raja increased their efforts to equalize but were denied a couple of apparent goals by the clever Sundowns offsides trap to end a frustrating outing for the Moroccan giants.
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