Iqraam Rayners scored in the 36th minute and Ronwen Williams made two saves to guide Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-0 victory over Ulsan HD at the Club World Cup on Tuesday in Orlando, Fla.
A striker for the South African national team, Rayners had a pair of would-be goals disallowed for a handball and an offside call, respectively, before he finally converted the lone goal of the match.
Lucas Ribeiro Costa split two defenders with a well-placed lead pass, Rayners collected it at the top of the box and he deposited the ball in the bottom left corner of the goal.
Williams protected the thin margin in the 81st minute when he got a mitt on substitute Matias Lacava’s shot. The ball was still on a trajectory for the goal, but Sundowns defender Keanu Cupido reached it in the box and made a heroic clearance.
The victory gave the side from South Africa (1-0-0, 3 points) an unexpected lead in Group F after Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund drew with Fluminense earlier in the day.
Ulsan HD of South Korea finished with a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal. Jo Hyeon-Woo made one save.
–Field Level Media
