Lunga can provide Divine intervention for Mamelodi Sundowns in Borussia Dortmund Fifa Club World Cup crunch

Mamelodi Sundowns are gearing up for their biggest Fifa Club World Cup challenge tomorrow, when they lock horns with Borussia Dortmund at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio (6pm SA time kick-off).

Despite being deemed underdogs in this high-stakes encounter, the South African champions are brimming with confidence, ready to make their mark on the global stage.

Zimbabwe international Divine Lunga, one of the stand-out players when Sundowns secured a crucial 1-0 victory against South Korea’s Ulsan HD in their opening Group F match, said Dortmund are the “big guns”.

Lunga, who was a surprise inclusion ahead of the seasoned Aubrey Modiba against Ulsan, is acutely aware of the formidable reputation of their opponents, but is unfazed by the challenge ahead.

Lunga has received great praise in Zimbabwe’s media since he is the first player from the southern African nation to play in the Club World Cup, and was part of the first African team to win a match at the tournament.

“Everyone knows what Dortmund are capable of. They are not a small team... they are the big guns,” Lunga asserted.

“Yes, we might be underdogs, but where we come from, people know who Mamelodi Sundowns are, and they know what is going to happen when you meet up with Mamelodi Sundowns.”

Eight-time Bundesliga champions Dortmund drew blanks in their opening game on Tuesday against Brazilian heavyweights Fluminense, while Sundowns moved to the top of the log after their 1-0 victory.

Lunga praised the team’s tactical preparation ahead of the Ulsan clash.

Sundowns’ triumph over Ulsan was more convincing than the 1-0 score-line suggests, with goal-scorer Iqraam Rayners seeing two more goals disallowed and Cardoso’s men commanding 68% of the possession.

“We did well,” he stated, noting how they were able to anticipate Ulsan’s game-play effectively.

“When they made changes, we were a bit surprised, but it was still going well on our side.

“I was happy about the win; we gave it our all, and everyone (in the team) fought to get a win.

“They were what we expected because we did analyse the games they had been playing before they came to the Fifa Club World Cup.”

Given Dortmund’s recent struggles, most notably a disappointing draw with Fluminense, the German side might be more vulnerable than ever.

This presents Sundowns with a golden opportunity to secure one of their most illustrious victories to date.

Cardoso will have a selection headache because some second-stringers produced superb performances in the opening group match.

Newcomer Keanu Cupido, starting at centre-back, was one such player. He showcased his potential with a stellar performance, and emerged as a hero after he prevented a late equaliser with a crucial intervention.

Much to the delight of the travelling Sundowns fans, Themba Zwane reclaimed the captain’s armband after a nine-month hiatus due to injury.

It will be interesting to see if Zwane is again in the starting line-up tomorrow.

Tashreeq Matthews, the young winger, came off the bench during Sundowns’ impressive victory over Ulsan.

If he cracks the selection nod, he’ll face his former club, providing a significant narrative twist to an upcoming fixture.

While his time on the pitch was limited, Matthews showcased his undeniable talent, getting into superb positions.

His ability to find space and create opportunities is a testament to his skills.

However, there remains an element of frustration when it comes to his finishing, a crucial aspect as he continues to refine his game.

Sundowns will hope that Matthews can leverage his experience to help secure a vital victory.

His unique insight into the inner workings of his former squad might provide the edge Sundowns need.