Star Metro - Eight-goal Sundowns just miss equalling their African record

Sundowns won the last 32 tie 15-1 on aggregate having beaten the Indian Ocean part-timers 7-0 last weekend in the first leg.

Both matches were staged in Pretoria because La Passe lack an international-standard stadium and conceded home advantage in the first encounter.

The record 16-1 margin for a Champions League qualifier was achieved by Sundowns in the 2020 edition when they thrashed another Seychellois club, Cote d'Or 11-1 at home and 5-0 away.

Cassius Mailula and Gift Motupa scored twice each for the South African outfit, Thapelo Morena, Hashim Domingo and Neo Maema once and Passe goalkeeper Dave Mussard conceded an own goal.

Malagasy Florent Rajaoniasy netted for Passe, whose line-up included a chef, a fireman, an accountant and a father and son, Dave Mussard, 35, and teenage defender Derold Mussard.

Having conceded a goal inside a minute last weekend, Passe initially fared better in the second leg and recovered from falling behind to equalise through a Rajaoniasy header.

Sundowns regained the initiative to go 3-1 up by half-time and the floodgates opened in the final 20 minutes when they added five goals.

The former African champions were joined in the group stage by five-time title-holders Zamalek of Egypt, Petro Luanda of Angola and Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria.

- 'Zizo' hat-trick -

Ahmed 'Zizo' Sayed scored a hat-trick as Zamalek followed up a solitary-goal away win over Flambeau Centre of Burundi with a 5-1 victory in Alexandria.

'Zizo' scored twice in the previous round and his overall tally places him second in the Golden Boot race behind seven-goal Fiston Mayele from Young Africans of Tanzania.

After falling behind in the second minute, Flambeau levelled through Leonard Gakwaya, raising hopes of a shock outcome.

But Senegalese Ibrahima Ndiaye and 'Zizo' netted before half-time and the latter completed his treble and Youssef Nabih also scored in the closing stages.

Virtually assured of progressing after a 3-0 away win, Petro found Cape Town City of South Africa harder to break down in Luanda, with Cabibi delivering a 1-0 win via an 87th-minute goal.

Petro were the surprise packets of the last edition, reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

Belouizdad secured a third straight mini-league appearance thanks to a 2-0 win over Malian visitors Djoliba, who took a one-goal lead into the return match.

Another six second legs are scheduled for Saturday and five for Sunday, when Wydad will attempt to overcome a 2-1 deficit when they host Rivers United of Nigeria.

X.Boucher--SMC