Sundowns thumped the Red Devils 5-2 at Loftus Versfeld to move to the top of Group B with 10 points.

The Namibian international striker, Peter Shalulile, netted a second half brace from Downs in the return fixture, while Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, and Marcel Allende all scored in the first half.

The Sundowns coach, Rhulani Mokwena, said they won the game as a collective, but there is still a long way to go in the competition.

"These types of victories are moments where you do not want to lose focus. You still have to stay very, very focused.

"It is very dangerous if you do not, so you have to stay focused. There are two more games in the group stages and thereafter there is still a very long way to go in the Champions League.

"We played a very bad first half and we started the second half at 3-1. We wanted to take a risk to score goals and get back into the game, but Sundowns used the counter well and scored more goals.

"It made our chances of qualifying much harder. Sundowns played well, but I can say we were better in the second half.

"The first half was not how we wanted to play as a team."

On Saturday, Sundowns will face Al-Hilal in Khartoum, Sudan.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport