Sundowns Club WC quest ends with a whimper

Like in their previous game, a 2-0 loss to Kashima Antlers, Sundowns showed glimpses of their quality, but also displayed a fair amount of naivety on the international stage, perhaps having underestimated their opponents, their cause not helped by some poor defending.

Apart from their egos taking a bit of a battering, the Tshwane club, who had harboured hopes of a possible final against Real Madrid, also lost out on around R7 million which was the difference between finishing fifth or sixth.

Although Downs mustered a bit of a fightback in the second half, the damage was all done in the opening 45 minutes as Jeonbuk Hyundai over-ran Pitso Mosimane’s unchanged side from their previous match in the competition and racked up a 3-0 halftime lead.

Sundowns started the match in a positive fashion, the likes of Khama Billiat and Thapelo Morena keeping the Korean side’s defence on their toes and the South African side had their first chance of the game on 10 minutes when Tiyani Mabunda let rip from distance, but the shot was kept out by goalkeeper Hong Jungnam.

But just six minutes later the Brazilians found themselves one goal down when Kim Bokyung smashed the ball in from close range after Jeonbuk had engaged in a superb move down the left flank.

Sundowns responded with a few brief moments of enterprising football, Billiat and Percy Tau showing some good touches, but with no end product.

And instead of the equaliser, the Asian champions were to double their lead on 29 minutes when Lee Jongho fired in after a cleverly worked move from a free kick.

By now Jeonbuk were well in control, looking sharper and showing more appetite to win back ball possession against a dejected and flat-looking looking Sundowns side.

Things got even worse for Masandawana four minutes before halftime when Ricardo Nascimento toed a cross in his own net to put Downs 3-0 behind.

But three minutes into the second half and the African champions gave themselves some hope when Tau chased down a ball on the right wing, beating a defender and cutting inside before blazing a brilliant 20-metre shot into the top corner.

However, the Koreans would have had a fourth goal shortly afterwards were it not for a goal-line clearance by Wayne Arendse.

Sundowns though were to improve as the second half progressed, looking a bit more like the confident ball-playing side they are and it took a good save on the hour mark by Jungnam to keep out Mabunda.

But another defensive lapse – Downs keeper Denis Onyango was left flapping at an 89th-minute corner kick, allowed Kim Shinwook to add a fourth goal with a powerful header.

Mosimane and his charges will now return home to focus on their domestic duties as they try to defend their league title