Mamelodi Sundowns defeated La Passe of the Seychelles 8-1 on Friday, narrowly missing tying the record for largest margin of victory in a CAF Champions League qualifying match.
Sundowns won the last 32 tie 15-1 on aggregate after defeating the Indian Ocean part-timers 7-0 in the first leg last weekend.
Both matches were played in Pretoria since La Passe lacked a venue of international caliber and forfeited the home advantage in the first match.
Sundowns achieved the record 16-1 margin for a Champions League qualifying match in the 2020 edition when they defeated Cote d’Or 11-1 at home and 5-0 away.
Cassius Mailula and Gift Motupa each scored twice for the South African side, while Thapelo Morena, Hashim Domingo, and Neo Maema scored once apiece, while Passe goalie Dave Mussard scored an own goal.
Florent Rajaoniasy scored for Passe, whose roster comprised a chef, a fireman, an accountant, as well as a father and son, 35-year-old Dave Mussard and 16-year-old defense Derold Mussard.
Last weekend, Passe conceded a goal within the first minute of play. In the second leg, Passe performed initially better and, after going behind, equalized with a Rajaoniasy header.
Sundowns reclaimed the initiative to lead 3-1 at halftime, and the floodgates opened with five goals in the closing 20 minutes.
In the group stage, the former African champions were joined by five-time champions Zamalek of Egypt, Petro Luanda of Angola, and Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria.
– ‘Zizo’ hat-trick –
Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed scored a hat-trick as Zamalek earned a 5-1 triumph in Alexandria after defeating Flambeau Centre of Burundi 1-0 on the road.
“Zizo” scored twice in the previous round, placing him second in the Golden Boot race behind Young Africans of Tanzania’s Fiston Mayele, who has seven goals.
After falling behind in the second minute, Flambeau leveled the score through Leonard Gakwaya, sparking hopes for an upset.
However, Senegalese Ibrahima Ndiaye and ‘Zizo’ scored before halftime, with the latter completing his hat-trick and Youssef Nabih also scoring late.
Petro, virtually assured of advancing following a 3-0 road victory, found Cape Town City of South Africa more difficult to penetrate in Luanda, where Cabibi scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute.
The previous edition’s surprise team, Petro, reached the semifinals before succumbing to eventual champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.
Belouizdad secured their third consecutive spot in the mini-league with a 2-0 victory over the Malian visitors Djoliba, who carried a one-goal advantage into the return encounter.
Six additional second legs are set for Saturday and five for Sunday, when Wydad will play Rivers United of Nigeria attempting to overcome a 2-1 deficit.