Kashima Antlers came storming back in the second half to beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup at the Suita City Football Stadium on Sunday.
Photo from video
At the break it looked good for the South Africans after they had outplayed their opponents in opening 45 minutes. But they were left ruing missed chances after being over-run in the second stanza as coach Pitso Mosimane’s dreams of global dominance came to an abrupt end.
It was certainly Sundowns who dominated the first half, showing no signs of jetlag as they looked lively and industrious in possession while creating several good scoring chances with Antlers keeper Hitoshi Sogahata by far the busier of the two shot-stoppers.
Looking to make his mark in front of an international audience, Downs winger Khama Billiat started brightly with his pace and skill troubling the home side’s defence. He created a decent opportunity for a marauding Thapelo Morena on 12 minutes, but Sogahata did well to get down to palm the angled drive away from goal.
The Brazilians’ other diminutive livewire winger Percy Tau was also showing his quality, and looked set to put his side ahead when sprinting clear on goal in the 22nd minute, but his parting shot from the left hand side of the box was well saved by Sogahata.
There were also typically sweetly-struck efforts from range from Tiyani Mabuna and Hlompho Kekana, the former’s effort forcing a diving save from Sogahata, while the latter was not far off target.
The J-League side immediately looked more purposeful after the restart and also showed more bite in the challenge which saw a tiring Sundowns failing to find any fluency in their play.
Antlers' second half dominance was rewarded in the 63rd minute when Shuhei Akasaki’s cross was played by Shoma Doi into the path of Endo, whose shot wrong-footed Downs keeper Denis Onyango and trickled over the line despite the Ugandan getting a good hand to the ball.
Whether it was fatigue setting in after the long-haul flight three days ago or simply the hosts’ improved efforts after the break, the Japanese side continued to look more threatening and were close to scoring a second on 73 minutes when Mu Kanazaki just missed the target with a header.
Ricardo Nascimento, though, could have levelled the game from an 84th minute corner kick, but after rising well, he steered his header wide.
Instead it was Antlers who wrapped up the win three minutes later when Kanazaki pounced clinically in the box after sustained pressure.
