Mamelodi Sundowns’s Diski Team produced a clinical display in their 3-0 triumph against the Chippa United Reserves on Sunday morning at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
The hosts showed character in the early minutes of the match, creating chances but they were just not getting it right with the finishing to find the back of the net.
On the opposite half, their visitors had two opportunities before the 15 minute mark hut Lwandiso Radebe denied them both opportunities.
On the 20th minute, Kabelo Sibande made a cross from the left flank but it went across the face of goal as there was no one to connect with the ball.
Five minutes later, Lehlohonolo Mahlangu was set up nicely through a defence splitting pass. Left unmarked, he made a run to the box and shot to find the farpost but the ball rolled a few inches off target.
The Chilli Boys almost broke the deadlock. Karabo Modikwe cleared a ball in the box with a header but the visitors found the rebound. From range, they fired a shot but it sailed a few inches over the bar.
Finally, on the half-hour mark, Masandawana opened the scoring through Kamohelo Mareletse. After continuous pressing, the midfielder tucked it in past the keeper to find the back of the net.
Bennet Mokoena almost doubled the advantage when he cut inside to evade the Chippa defence. His low-shot effort on the nearpost was caught by the keeper.
Lazola Maku had a big opportunity to find the back of the net in the final stages of the first half. Having dribbled past the keeper on the right flank, he took a shot which was blocked a defender. This saw Bafana Ba Style heading to the interval with a goal advantage.
Coach Tiro van Rooyen made his first chance in the restart, introducing Sechaba Gaseitsiwe for Bennet Mokoena. Gaseitsiwe looked to make immediate impact when he made a box entry in the first minute of the second half. The visitors, however, snatched the ball from him to deny him an scoring opportunity.
Chippa applied pressure on the 48th minute, creating an opportunity to equalize. Wandile Dube, however, managed to head the effort away.
Exactly on the hour mark Masandawana almost doubled matters but the keeper came off his mark to punch it away.
On the 66th minute, the hosts finally managed to break the Chippa line. Gomolemo Kekana set up Gaseitsiwe nicely with a defence splitting pass. The forward wasted no time to put it past the keeper to double the advantage for Downs.
On the 70th minute, the young Brazilians made it three goals. Mareletse’s initial attempt was cleared but he found an expected rebound to put his side even further ahead.
In the final stages of the match, the visitors searched for a consolation goal. They almost got it when they were face to face with Radebe but Zazi Qotoyi’s header cleared the ball from danger.
While they desired more goals, three goals and a clean sheet was enough for Downs to pick up three points at home.
How we lined up: Radebe, Sibande ©, Dube, Qotoyi, Modikwe, Kekana, Maku, Mareletse, Mahlangu, Mokoena, Letlhaku.
Subs: Menemene, Maake, Gaseitsiwe, Nxumalo, Masisi
