In a match without great technical quality and in the face of a very low audience (3,412 people), Mamelodi Sundowns beat Ulsan 1-0 on Tuesday (17) in Orlando, United States. With the triumph over the South Korean team, South African took the lead of the F-World Cup Group’s leadership, a key that also has Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, with one point each.
More than the performance of the two teams on the field, the empty spaces in the stands caught the attention. In addition to the popularity of football in the United States is still relatively low, several other factors contributed to the public failure of the duel in Orlando, Florida.
The US state is known for housing a large number of Latin migrants, most of them born in countries where football is quite popular. But the tense climate created with President Donald Trump’s government immigration policy has made foreigners avoid public concentrations, fear of deportations.
Nor were weather conditions favorable, which delayed the beginning of the match. The players were ready for the initial whistle when the warning to the risk of storm and lightning came. With the execution of the security protocol, the ball rolled 65 minutes after the expected.
When she finally rolled, Mamelodi Sundowns showed seriously the club’s motto. With the phrase “The sky is the limit” stamped on the yellow-green shirt of its players, the South Africa team has overcome their technical and financial limitations to jump to the top of group F, at least for now, of more famous and more investment opponents.
The goal of the South African team was scored by Iqraam Rayners, 36 minutes into the first half, with assistance from Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro, shirt 10.
On Saturday (21), at 19h (Brasilia), the Lantern Ulsan will try to react to Fluminense, at Metlife Stadium, in East Rutherford. Mamelodi sundowns will duel with Borussia Dortmund, also on Saturday, at 1 pm, at TQL Stadium, in Cincinnati.
