A dominant first-half performance saw Mamelodi Sundowns register their first win in Group C of the CAF Champions League as they beat AS Togo Port 2-1 at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Friday night.

The Togolese outfit had stunned the 2016 champions in the reverse fixture when they ran out 1-0 victors, condemning them to the bottom of the group standings with just three fixtures to go in the round.

Home ground advantage seemed to galvanise the Pretoria outfit, as they were quickly out of the blocks with Gaston Sirino putting them on the scorecard as early as the ninth minute before the Bolivian turned provider, as he laid a ball into the box for Sibusiso Vilakazi who produced a cheeky finish to make it 2-0 in the 13th minute.

That allowed the hosts some breathing space as Togo Port looked to claw their way back into the game, only getting their first real attempt at goal as the break was approaching when Dennis Onyango was forced into a reflex save as his defence failed to decisively deal with a set piece.

The security the two-goal cushion provided saw Sundowns come out of the tunnel a little more subdued than they were in the first stanza, and it was only 20 minutes into the first half when they had their first decisive shot at goal after the break, as Jeremy Brockie’s attempt crashed into the side netting.

Fullback, Tebogo Langerman also had a few chances towards the end of the game, but it was the opposition who would find the net, as Kokou Kloukpo made sure of a nervous finish for the hosts with a strike in the closing stages.

However, no further goals were forthcoming as the win propelled Sundowns back into contention for a spot in the knockout phases, ensuring that they now sit in third place, tied with Rwandan outfit, Horoya in points and goal difference.