Mamelodi Sundowns emerged victorious in a tricky Nedbank Cup Round of 32 assignment when they defeated Motsepe Foundation Championship side, Gomora United, 2-1 on Wednesday night at Loftus Versfeld.
Aubrey Modiba almost opened the scoring when he tried to cross the ball to Peter Shalulile, but was unfortunate as the Gomora United defence was first to the ball to deny their hosts.
The Gomora United side were quick to retaliate through a counterattack effort, which led to them driving the ball towards goal, but were interrupted by the Downs defence from getting the ball through to the area.
From range, Modiba stung a shot from range after finding himself with so much space in front of him, but the Gomora keeper caught the ball. Katlego Ntsabelengalso came close to breaking the deadlock for the hosts, but he was denied by the crossbar.
Shalulile came close to teeing one up twice. Two crosses from Ntsabeleng and Bathusi Aubaas found a ready Shalulile in front of the goal, but his attempt to connect the ball was mistimed. Kutlwano Letlhaku’s left-footed effort almost saw the hosts break the deadlock in the stroke of the first half, but the keeper denied him with a smack of the ball.
Masandawana were banging on the door with their numerous effort on goal, but the Gomora United goalkeeper continued defending the ball and making clearances strong enough to deny Downs a goal. The breakthrough, however, finally came for the hosts through Shalulile in the 41st minute. Letlhaku, who came from the right, supplied a cut-back to a Shalulile who was unmarked on the penalty spot. The leading goalscorer wasted no time as he hit the back of the net.
In the final minute of the opening half, the visitors capitalised from an effective counterpress after catching the Downs defence napping. They pulled the trigger and levelled matters before heading to the interval.
In the restart of the match, Arthur Sales, who came in for Katlego Ntsabeleng, looked to make an immediate impact with an effort from the right, but it sailed over the bar.
The Brazilians continued to knock on the door, seeing coming close to goal just after the 50th minute when Shalulile punched the ball towards the goal, but the keeper denied the Downs forward.
On the 62nd minute, after catching the Gomora United defence napping, Jayden Adams made a beautiful pass to Thapelo Morena, who found a blind spot and headed the ball into the net to help his side restore the lead.
Morena delivered the ball into the area where Shalulile readily received the ball, but was unlucky as he clashed with the goalkeeper, who was quick to snatch the ball before it crossed the line.
How we lined up: Pieterse, Kekana, Aubaas, Khoza, Modiba, Adams, Mkhulise, Zwane ©, Letlhaku, Ntsabeleng, Shalulile.
Subs: February, Basadien, Reisinho, Allende, Morena, Rayners, Matthews, Sales.
We are still in the game Masandawana for the champions league, thank you to Adams for the equaliser, I still believe this boy has a lot to offer when played as a n attacking fielder than defensive.Our defensive filders should be Tebza and Aubaas and no one else. The line up today was better as there was experience on the pitch.Methews is not a bad player ,he needs a good coach to mentor and coach him, he is very vibrant and gets to good places at a good time, but his finnishing need a good coach. Regarding foreigners in our team, only Rebeiro was extra ordinary ,the rest are average players, Sales, Allende are not bad ,and can still improve.I hate yo think that ghis coach rejected Maboe and Maema for these average players from Portugal, they can’t help us in the CCL because they are not used in conditions in Africa, the climate etc.Its better gor the South Americans because they are also used to very hot climate.Whether Cardoso qualifies or not for quarter finals of CCL, he should go, we are tired of minying everytime sunfowns play, this club is too big gor him, by the way ,what has he won in his coaching career?Also the people that are surrounding the Chairmen, I do not think they are the right people to advise him, if sundowns continue to do like this.In the firsy place why did they allow Rulani to go? Why did they allow Mnqithi to go? This obsession with Europeans is not goinv to assist us, african players, south american pkayers are the ones that are making europian leagues look good ,yet we still think everything that is europian is better than us, shame on us africans.We could hace done better in in the world cup if we were coached either by Rulani or Mnqithi, because they qualified us first and new how we play to win., This Cardoso never qualified us to world cup, he wad just lucky to find himself there.Lastly Masandawana ,ho and fill up the stadium on saterday yo support your team, and behave well so that you do not not disgrace your club, this is a big brand and its name must not be brought to disrepute, coaches come and go but Sundowns and uou Masandawana will remain.KBY