Mamelodi Sundowns are through to the group stages of this season’s Confederation of African Football Champions League after a 2-1 win over USM Alger of Algeria in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon.

Sundowns reached the knockout stages with two games to spare with first-half goals from Thapelo Morena and Sibusiso Vilakazi.

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch FC moved up to 11th spot on the ABSA Premiership table after a 4-1 away win over Highlands Park in Tembisa.

In another PSL fixture played on Saturday afternoon, Baroka FC moved off the bottom of the log after a slender 1-0 win against neighbours Polokwane City in a local derby.

Polokwane City coach Clinton Larsen says he played with a makeshift defence after three of his centre-halves were not available.

“I thought after the first five minutes conceding the penalty it was one-way traffic. I thought the boys played very well. Unfortunately, we have no defenders available. We’ve had to put a winger at right full-back. Our right full-back at centre half, because all three centre-halves are injured but be that as it may, I thought it was one-way traffic throughout the first half and second, and we just could not get the ball over the line.”