Mamelodi Sundowns finished top of Group B in the CAF Champions League with a 2-1 win over Coton Sport on Saturday night.
With qualification already secured, Sundowns rang the changes as goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse, Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Haashim Domingo and Terrence Mashego all started, with Marcelo Allende installed as captain.
After a subdued start, the Brazilians had the first shot in anger around the midway point when Domingo's snap shot on the volley from a tight angle shaved beyond the near post.
Masandawana weren't done causing problems particularly from wide areas in addition to tight spaces in which the underlap moves of Mashego and Grant Kekana repeatedly stretched Coton's defence.
The Brazilians thus seized initiative a minute to halftime when Mashego overlapped down the left and cutback to see Sylvestre Materne Mekong find his own net with a loose clearance.
Sundowns were very close to doubling their lead early in the second half with a header by Rushine De Reuck from a corner, but he failed to find target.
As the contest hanged in the balance, two new arrivals from the substitutes bench arrived when Abubeker Nasir took the place of Allende before Erwin Saavedra came in for Neo Maema.
Les Cotonniers started to fancy their chances around the final quarter and full-back Mekong ventured forward from deep before hitting the outside post with a cross-cum shot.
Masandawana did get the second goal when the visitors conceded possession high up, before Nasir found the bottom-corner with a stern finish in the last two minutes.
The record-breaking South African champions didn't manage keep a clean sheet as Moshood Kasali pulled wide of the area and rifled in a superb strike, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Sundowns claimed the win and top spot in the group.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Pieterse, De Reuck, Mbule, Boutouil, Kekana, Mashego, Mkhulise, Allende, Domingo, Mailula, Maema
Subs: Mweene, Lebusa, Nkosi, Kutumela, Modiba, Saavedra, Nasir, Ngobeni, Shalulile
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