Rayners Strikes, Cupido Rescues: Sundowns Stun Ulsan to Top Club World Cup Group

A Cape Town Hero, a Legacy Tackle, and a Famous Sundowns Win

Mamelodi Sundowns kicked off their Club World Cup journey with a gritty 1-0 win over South Korea’s Ulsan HD early Wednesday morning (SA time), shaking off weather delays and early VAR heartbreak to go top of their group in Orlando, Florida.

It was a night where Iqraam Rayners stepped into the spotlight, scoring the decisive goal and nearly bagging a hat-trick, and Keano Cupido etched his name into Sundowns folklore with a dramatic last-minute clearance that preserved the lead.

But this was no smooth stroll in the Florida heat – it was hard-earned, emotional, and historic.

Image Source: X – Keanu Cupido with outstanding clearance

Rayner’s Opens the Account… After Two Heartbreaks

Image Source: X – Mamelodi Sundowns Celebrate Rayners Goal

The match was delayed by over an hour due to lightning, but Sundowns came out firing the moment the ball was rolling. Rayners thought he had opened the scoring early, and then again later, only for VAR to intervene twice.

First, a goal was chalked off for a handball after a corner had ricocheted into the net off his arm. Minutes later, another finish was called back for offside, despite the move being a masterclass of playmaking from Lucas Ribeiro.

But persistence paid off in the 36th minute, when Rayners finally found the net legally. A slick through-ball from Ribeiro once again sliced through Ulsan’s backline, and Rayners calmly toe-poked the ball home. This time, the goal stood. Cue celebrations.

Cupido’s Clearance Channels Family Redemption

Image Source: X – Keanu Cupido with Key Clearance for Sundowns

While Rayners grabbed the headlines, it was Keano Cupido who arguably saved the game. In the dying minutes, with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams beaten and Ulsan bearing down on an open net, Cupido flew in to clear the ball just centimetres before it crossed the line.

That last-ditch tackle wasn’t just a save – it was symbolic. Keano’s father, Greg Cupido, famously scored an own goal for Sundowns in the 1986 Mainstay Cup final against Jomo Cosmos. Nearly four decades later, his son made a match-winning tackle for the same club in one of their biggest modern moments.

Football has a way of writing full-circle stories.

Sundowns Could’ve Wrapped it Early

Miguel Cardoso’s side dominated large spells of the game, especially in the first half. Ribeiro and Rayners looked electric, Themba Zwane returned to the starting XI after being left out of the CAF Champions League final, and Teboho Mokoena nearly doubled the lead with a signature free-kick before halftime.

There were some nervy moments too. Divine Lunga had to clear a dangerous lob off the line after Williams was caught out of position, and casual passing at the back nearly handed Ulsan a way in more than once.

But this Sundowns team showed character. Even when under pressure, they didn’t crumble. They managed the clock, protected their lead, and leaned on moments of individual brilliance to see it through.

What This Means Going Forward

With group favourites Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense playing to a draw, Sundowns now sit top of their group – a scenario few would have predicted heading into the tournament.

Cardoso’s message about adaptability in a possession-light environment seems to be paying off. His team, used to controlling games in the PSL, is learning to win in different ways on the world stage.

This win gives them belief. It shows they belong. And with a Cape Town striker and a legacy-saving defender leading the charge, anything now feels possible.

Source:IOL 

Read More: Mamelodi Sundowns Claim Emotional Club World Cup Victory in Florida

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