{"id":10805,"date":"2025-06-18T10:28:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T07:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/news\/?p=10805"},"modified":"2025-06-18T10:28:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T07:28:14","slug":"mamelodi-sundowns-secure-first-fifa-club-world-cup-win-vs-ulsan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/news\/football-news\/mamelodi-sundowns-secure-first-fifa-club-world-cup-win-vs-ulsan\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamelodi Sundowns Secure First FIFA Club World Cup Win vs Ulsan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mamelodi Sundowns<\/strong>, one of Africa\u2019s football giants, etched their name into FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) history by clinching their first-ever win in the tournament. Their hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea\u2019s Ulsan HD<\/strong> in Orlando was a proud moment for South African football and, by extension, African football as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The win not only lifted Sundowns to the top of Group F<\/strong>, but also sent a strong signal that African clubs can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world. For Kenyan fans and football lovers across East Africa, this result is more than just a stat \u2014 it’s a beacon of what African club football can achieve with the right infrastructure and belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mamelodi
Photo courtesy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfaf Match Recap: How the Brazilians Conquered the Tigers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First Half: VAR Drama and a Moment of Magic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coming into the match, Ulsan HD<\/strong>, two-time CWC participants (2012 and 2020), were expected to dominate, but it was Mamelodi Sundowns<\/strong> who started with intent. They nearly opened the scoring in the 29th minute through Iqraam Rayners<\/strong>, who finished off a corner with a close-range tap. However, VAR intervened and chalked off the goal for a handball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rayners wasn\u2019t to be denied a second time. In the 36th minute<\/strong>, he raced onto a perfectly timed through-ball from Lucas Ribeiro<\/strong>, before curling a sensational finish into the bottom-left corner with the outside of his boot. It was a moment of pure brilliance that proved decisive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just before halftime, Ulsan nearly struck back, but Divine Lunga<\/strong> came to the rescue, heading a goal-bound effort off the line to preserve the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mamelodi
Photo courtesy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Second Half: Control, Composure, and Closing the Game<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The second half was less eventful in front of the goal but showcased Sundowns\u2019 game management. A key chance came in the 53rd minute when Ribeiro attempted a curling effort, but a resolute Ulsan defence kept the Brazilians at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite late pressure from the Korean champions, Miguel Cardoso\u2019s<\/strong> men stayed composed and shut down any attacking threats, closing out the match with a mature and professional performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcca What This Means for the Group<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense<\/strong> playing out a goalless draw, Sundowns now lead Group F<\/strong>, giving them a strong chance of progressing to the knockout rounds. For Ulsan HD<\/strong>, however, the defeat leaves them bottom of the table and needing a miracle to qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This win gives South Africa, and by extension the African continent<\/strong>, renewed hope of making deeper runs in global club tournaments \u2014 something Kenyan clubs like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards can aspire to in the years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mamelodi
Photo courtesy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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