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IOL News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Can the Yellow Nation sink the Yellow Submarine?
Tashreeq Matthews (centre, No 17) could provide Mamelodi Sundowns with inside information on his former club Borussia Dortmund. Photo: PHANDO JIKELO Image: PHANDO JIKELO THIS is it. This is the match that was always going to define Mamelodi Sundowns' Fifa Club World Cup. The clash against one of Europe's top clubs – Borussia Dortmund – stood out as the biggest test for the South African champions from the moment the draw for the global club championship was made. The general notion was that the Bundesliga club have to be the favourites to top Group F, while Sundowns would, at best, be third behind Fluminense, with Ulsan HD pencilled in as the potential worst team. Football is, however, very fickle at the top, and ahead of this evening's clash (6pm SA time kick-off) between the Yellow Nation of Tshwane and the Yellow Submarine of Germany, the standings are nothing like what the punters had forecasted. Sundowns are top of the group with maximum points following their 1-0 defeat of the South Korean team they should actually have smashed by much more. Iqraam Rayners scored the winner on a night when Lucas Ribeiro Costa was in scintillating form delivering some sublime passes to find the Capetonian striker, who actually put the ball into the opposition net on three occasions. It was a real pity that on two of those, he'd handled the ball before scoring and then strayed offside prior to receiving the ball from his Brazilian teammate. It was the kind of performance, though, that would have imbued Sundowns with confidence as they go into the clash with a Dortmund likely to not be as cock-a-hoop as they'd have been at the start of the tournament. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Held goalless by Fluminense in their opener, the Germans are going to be hard-pressed to win tonight if they are to be sure of progressing to the knockout phase... and often that can be a recipe for panic. Granted, it is generally accepted that a clash between a European and an African side should go the way of the former. And after Manchester City beat Wydad Casablanca this week, that notion would have been strengthened. But there's nothing to say Sundowns cannot pull the rug from underneath the feet of their revered opponents, not when Ronwen Williams and his teammates are so hyped up following that win over Ulsan. It is a massive test for the multiple South African champions, who will know that the rest of the world has their eyes on them after they were the only one of the four African teams to win their opening match. And with Al Ahly losing their second match, Sundowns essentially carry the baton for Africa – the continent is banking on them to progress out of the round robin phase. Surely that must be motivation enough for them to give their best against Dortmund. Besides, there is also the opportunity for them to market themselves to the world, this match likely to attract a much bigger audience – not only in the stadium – but on television, simply because of the stature of their opponents. Whereas prior to the start of the competition they were probably seen as just another African team by their opponents, Sundowns are now surely a serious opposition to Dortmund, and this much, the German club's coach has confirmed. 'As I said at the beginning of the press conference, I think my team and Fluminense are favourites. But in football, you must first play the games and show that you are favourites,' said Niko Kovac. 'We have some impressions and we know that Sundowns played in the (CAF) Champions League final a few weeks ago. 'So, they are a tough opponent as you saw in the other games. You must work very hard against African teams. 'They are strong and powerful. So, for that, we need to refresh our minds, and to be fully prepared because the next games are very important for us.' The good thing for Sundowns is that they have, in Tashreeq Matthews, a player with a little bit of knowledge of their opponents – the young attacker having previously turned out for the Germans. He was not particularly effective against Ulsan, though, and it remains to be seen how coach Miguel Cardoso uses him for this one. It is a big match, not only for Sundowns, but for African football, as it presents the continent with an opportunity to show just how we rank against the Europeans, who are generally accepted to be at the top of the game in the world. Wouldn't it be grand if the Yellow Nation were to be victorious over the Yellow Submarine?
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Tashreeq Matthews eyes glory as Mamelodi Sundowns chase CAF Champions League crown
Tashreeq Matthews Tashreeq Matthews (centre, No 17) was all smiles after opening the scoring for Mamelodi Sundowns against Cape Town City. Photo: PHANDO JIKELO Image: PHANDO JIKELO Mamelodi Sundowns man Tashreeq Matthews believes the risk of giving up European football for a homecoming in South Africa could soon yield the ultimate reward – continental glory. The Brazilians winger was a marquee signing when he joined the reigning Premiership champions in January last year. A hefty R30 million fee was enough to pry him away from Swedish side IK Sirius, and while there was interest from other European clubs, Matthews chose Chloorkop over staying abroad. Now, 18 months later, he stands on the brink of becoming a CAF Champions League winner. 'Yeah, I mean coming back was a difficult decision. But at the end of the day, coming back to the best team in South Africa and winning trophies, and just now that we are in the CAF final as well, the Champions League final,' Matthews said ahead of Saturday's first leg of the final against Pyramids FC at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (3pm kick-off). 'It says a lot and winning trophies. In Europe I didn't win any trophies beside individual awards, but now I'm winning trophies together with the team.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading "we not going to drop down to anyone's level" -Grant Kekana This message is definitely directed to those who want Mamelodi Sundowns to accommodate Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates when it comes to the league title race. 😂 — Real Champions Online Branch (@MSFC__) May 21, 2025 Matthews, 24, endured a challenging start to life at Sundowns. Adjusting to the more physical and fast-paced nature of the PSL took time, but the former Ajax Cape Town academy graduate now looks comfortable in the colours of a side that demands excellence week in and week out. He has also found a way to leverage his smaller frame to his advantage, especially in the often bruising battles of continental football. 'It's not just me, there's a lot of footballers that have my structure,' he said. 'It depends on how you use your body. 'Of course, sometimes it comes to a disadvantage, but I mean if you are in the possession of the ball, you have an advantage at the end of the day because if you just know how to use your body, you have all the advantage because you are in possession of the ball as well.' Sundowns will face Egyptian giants Pyramids in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Stadium on Saturday – a clash that could define their season. 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 💬 📆 23 May ⚽ Mamelodi Sundowns vs Pyramids FC 🏆 Champions League Final 🗣 Miguel Cardoso 💻 Livestream on MSFC YouTube 📲 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #RabatsenaGape — Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) May 22, 2025 The Chloorkop-based club have already secured back-to-back league titles, but their continental ambition remains a burning priority. Matthews knows finals come with their own script, but he's confident in the DNA of this Sundowns side. 'The finals, it's a different game, it can go anyway at the end of the day. If it's your turn to win, you will win,' he said. 'But at the end of the day, it also depends on what happens on the day, and I think as Sundowns, you are expected to win every game, every final. 'It doesn't matter if it's a friendly as well, you want to win every time and sometimes, it doesn't go your way.' For Matthews, that desire to win – and to belong to a club that expects nothing less – has made the gamble of returning home worthwhile. The CAF Champions League crown would be a fitting reward.
IOL News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mamelodi Sundowns dominate Cape Town City, inch closer to eighth consecutive PSL title
Tashreeq Matthews Tashreeq Matthews (centre, No 17) was all smiles after opening the scoring for Mamelodi Sundowns against Cape Town City on Saturday night. Photo: PHANDO JIKELO Image: PHANDO JIKELO Mamelodi Sundowns cemented their spot at the top of the Premiership with a 2-0 win over Cape Town City on Saturday evening, edging tantalisingly closer to an eighth consecutive league title – a monumental feat in South African football history. Coach Miguel Cardoso's team (61 points after 24 games) are now 12 points clear of second-placed Orlando Pirates (22), who have 49 after their dramatic 2-1 Soweto derby win over Kaizer Chiefs earlier on Saturday. Attacking midfielder Tashreeq Matthews gave Masandawana a 1-0 halftime lead after a rousing first half at the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point. On two occasions in the opening four minutes, City managed to round the Brazilians' defence, but failed to capitalise. Iqraam Rayners Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners, seen here taking on Cape Town City defender Lorenzo Gordinho, created the first goal and scored the second at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night. Photo: PHANDO JIKELO Image: PHANDO JIKELO This pressure earned them the game's first corner, but goalkeeper Ronwen Williams gathered well to nullify the set-piece. Sundowns managed to thwart City's early attacking forays before it reached the fringes of their goalmouth. At the other end, the visitors were far more penetrative, but their only reward was Matthews' 34th-minute strike after a fine feed from teammate Iqraam Rayners, who earlier managed to beat the offside trap. As the second half wound its course, there were plenty of oohs and ahs from the fans as both defences survived close calls after several half-chances emerged. For the greater part of the half, play swung like a pendulum from one end to the other, highlighting the attacking intent of the teams. The heart and tenacity of the teams displayed belied the fact that the game was a contest between teams at different ends of the Premiership standings. Towards the end of the match, Sundowns' class came to the fore when they doubled their score through Rayners, who ran smartly to latch onto an Arthur Sales through-ball for the side's insurance goal.
