South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns may have fallen 4-3 to a heavily fancied Borussia Dortmund side in Saturday’s Club World Cup encounter, but they emerged with their heads held high – and the respect of football lovers around the world.
Sundowns, who were runners-up in the CAF Champions League final earlier this month, came into the game sitting top of Group F after edging out South Korea’s Ulsan HD 1-0 in their opening match. It was exactly the boost the Betway Premiership side needed ahead of facing a stubborn opponent in Bundesliga powerhouse Borussia Dortmund. The Germans had settled for a goalless draw in their first match against Fluminense, and both teams entered the clash with lofty expectations.
As expected, Mamelodi Sundowns hit the ground running. They showed no signs of intimidation, sticking to their trademark attacking-positional football – a philosophy often associated with European footballing elites. The big question going into the match was: would Sundowns dare to stick to their style against one of the masters of the very same system?
That question was answered early. In the 11th minute, in-form forward Lucas “Speedpoint” Ribeiro pounced on a midfield error from Dortmund and buried the opener. Hope surged for South Africans watching across the globe. But seasoned fans knew this would only spark an intense battle – and it did.
It did not take long for Dortmund to respond, capitalizing on a rare error by Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to level the score. Just before halftime, as concentration typically dips, Jude Bellingham’s younger brother, Jobe Bellingham, found the back of the net to give Dortmund a 2-1 lead.
The sweltering heat seemed to affect both teams, but it was the Germans who struck again, making it 3-1 and then 4-1 before the hour mark. Still, the resilient Sundowns refused to back down. Iqraam Rayners, scorer of the winning goal in their opener, pulled one back soon after. The intensity rose as the game reached its closing stages.
Coach Miguel Cardoso made bold moves, bringing on five substitutes: Morena, Sales, Adams, and Lebo Mothiba among them. The momentum shifted almost immediately. In the 86th minute, Mothiba scored from a smart assist by Kutlwano Lethlaku, bringing Sundowns within a goal of parity.
But it was too little, too late.
It was one of those nights where you could say: Sundowns did not lose – they simply ran out of time. The Brazilians, as they are fondly known, matched Dortmund blow for blow and demonstrated exactly why they dominate South African football. Their brave performance did not just light up the tournament – it elevated South African football on the global stage.
And if there was ever a moment that summed up the respect they earned: Borussia Dortmund players queuing for Mamelodi Sundowns jerseys after the match. That is top-tier recognition.
