A last-gasp goal in a 3-2 victory sees Mamelodi Sundowns through to the MTN8 semifinals after beating a resistant Polokwane City on Saturday night at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Heroic goals from Teboho Mokoena, Antonio van Wyk and Cassius Mailula saw the Pretoria-based side emerging victorious in their opening match of the 2026/27 campaign.
The host started on the front foot early in the match when an effort from Fawaaz Basadien inside the box almost saw them breaking the deadlock but a tackle on the defender saw him lose the ball.
It is, however, the visitors that broke the deadlock on the 7th minute. Rise and Shine took advantage of the floppy defence when they fired a ball to the far post through a powerful shot.
Masandawana’s first shot on target came from Tashreeq Matthews’ glancing header on the 21st minute but the goalkeeper tipped the effort away.
A minute later, the hosts responded through Teboho Mokoena’s left-footed shot. The ball from Antonio van Wyk – who made his debut in Brazilian colours – found Mokoena inside the box, who wasted no time to slot it in, levelling matters.
Mokoena, again, struck a venomous shot but a case of right place, right time, saw the goalkeeper smacking the effort away to deny Masandawana a lead.
A 31st minute goal turned things around for Bafana Ba Style when they snatched the lead from their Polokwane City counterparts. It is van Wyk who took advantage of a defensive mistake to put it past the keeper, making it 2-1.
40 minutes into the encounter the Limpopo-based side almost levelled matters when the ball was intercepted in front of Ronwen Williams. The headed effort, however, sailed over the bar, seeing the hosts heading to the interval with a one-goal lead.
The Brazilians continued with their dominance in the second stanza, as they looked to extend their lead but their efforts were being denied in the final third.
Just inside the hour-mark, through a set-piece effort, the Polokwane side levelled matters after a connection that put it past Williams.
Looking to snatch back the lead, Masandawana struggled to infiltrate the Rise and Shine defence as their opponents made things hard for them.
Inside the seven minutes of added time, Matthews was fouled just outside the box, earning the hosts a free kick. Taken by Modiba, the shot to the right side missed the target by a few inches.
Extra time was required in this meeting to decide the side that was to head to the semifinals of the tournament. The hosts almost pulled one back through substitute, Mailula’s venomous effort which unfortunately went wide.
Another big effort from Masandawana was denied, this time around, through the keeper’s double save. Substitute, Themba Zwane was blocked but Lebo Mothiba found the rebound which was also blocked.
The 113th minute was the defining moment for Bafana Ba Style as they bolted a shot to regain the lead very late in the game. Zwane had set up Mailula with a backheel pass on the edge of the box and Mailula did not waste time to fire it in, concluding the tough encounter.
How we lined up: Williams ©, Mudau, Johannes, Kekana, Basadien, Mokoena, Allende, Matthews, Rayners, B. Mokoena, van Wyk.
Subs: Goss, Khoza, Modiba, Mdunyelwa, Mkhulise, Zwane, Mailula, Letlhaku, Mothiba.
Football is called the beautiful game for a reason…but it becomes an ugly game when players stop playing the ball and play the man…what i saw was blatant and very obvious…and yet the person or people that are meant to ensure fairness watched it all happen in front of them without bother…it seriously concerning…these are our national team players. This is disturbing as it constantly happens when sundowns is playing…refs do nothing about it…what should we as supporters read into this…Anyway…good luck to the team tonight…weather the storm as it were.