By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 18, 2025 02:23 AM • 93 views
In a night that began with lightning and ended with history, Mamelodi Sundowns etched their name into the revamped FIFA Club World Cup storyline, edging past South Korea's Ulsan HD 1-0 in a tightly contested Group F opener at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando. Iqraam Rayners was the hero for the South African champions, netting the decisive goal in the 36th minute to deliver Africa its first victory in the newly expanded 32-team format of the tournament being staged across the United States. Lightning Before the Thunder The match was delayed by more than an hour due to the threat of lightning in central Florida. Both teams had already taken to the pitch before French referee Clément Turpin made the call to send them back into the locker rooms for safety. But when play finally resumed, it was the Sundowns who struck with electric precision.
Rayners Leads the Charge
Rayners had already seen two goals chalked off by VAR—one for handball, another for a marginal offside—but the Stellenbosch-born striker stayed locked in. His persistence paid off just before halftime, as Lucas Ribeiro, the Brazilian midfield maestro, threaded a delightful through ball past a static Ulsan backline. Rayners timed his run perfectly and calmly slotted home the match-winner.
It was a composed finish from a player who, on another night, might have walked away with a hat trick. "You just keep going," Rayners said post-match. “It's frustrating to see the flag or VAR come up, but as a striker, you've got to believe the next one will count.Tonight, it did. 
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Dominance Without Conversion
Sundowns, fresh off their CAF Champions League final appearance, controlled more than 70% of possession and dictated the pace with their signature passing game. However, their rhythm often lacked urgency in the final third, and missed opportunities kept Ulsan in the contest longer than they should have been. Lucas Ribeiro himself nearly opened the scoring inside 20 seconds after a slick passing sequence, only for his shot to be blocked. As the game wore on, the Brazilians in both camps—Ribeiro for Sundowns and Erick Farias for Ulsan—were central figures but with contrasting fortunes. Farias squandered Ulsan's best chance in the fourth minute, firing wide with the goal at his mercy following a rapid counterattack. The K League side had two more close calls; both scrambled away from Sundowns' goalmouth but offered little else in attack.
Sundowns Make a Statement for Africa
The win not only gave Sundowns a valuable three points, vaulting them atop Group F after Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense played out a goalless draw earlier in the day—it also marked a landmark moment for African football at this World Cup. With Al Ahly having drawn and Esperance falling to Flamengo, the result delivers a much-needed statement of intent from the continent's most tactically progressive side. "We didn't just come here to participate," said Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena. "We came to compete, and today was just the beginning." Next up for the South African champions is a mouthwatering clash with Dortmund, where a victory could all but secure a spot in the knockout stage. On the evidence of Tuesday night, they may have more surprises in store.
