Mamelodi Sundowns have walked away with maximum points at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium following an emphatic 4-1 victory against Durban City on Saturday night. Goals from Thabang Matuludi, Iqraam Rayners and Antonio van Wyk saw the Brazilians grabbing all points on offer.
Sundowns rattled the goalkeeper early in the game and on the 10th minute, Cassius Mailula tested him with a shot after being set up through a cut-back. The City keeper was forced to dive and he managed to tip the effort away.
Both sides were threatening each other’s defence with end-to-end football. Ricardo Goss was tested by the visitors when they came close to finding the back of the net but was lucky to see it sail slightly over the bar.
The visitors had also managed to contain Bafana Ba Style, until Thabang Matuludi opened the scoring. The defender was at the right place at the right time and managed to find the tongue of the net through a glancing header.
A few minutes later, Matuludi rattled the City defence again with another header but was unfortunate to see it sail over the bar. The goal was enough to see Downs head to the interval with a lead.
The second stanza started a bit sluggish for both sides but it was the hosts who were dominant. A goal took time in the second half but on the 66th minute, Matuludi doubled the advantage. A cross had come from Aubrey Modiba which was met by Matuludi’s header as he tucked it past the keeper.
Substitute, Siyanda Ndlovu made immediate impact and on the 71st minute, the forward sent the keeper diving to make a save from his effort.
An unsatisfied Matuludi almost registered a hattrick when he forced a shot outside the box but the keeper who was at work tipped it over the bar.
On the 79th minute, substitute, Iqraam Rayners made it three for Downs. Ndlovu set him up from the right flank and he connected with the ball to finish.
Seven minutes later, Durban City caught the nappy defence and managed to put the ball past Goss. The encounter was, however, concluded by Antonio van Wyk when he made it four goals during added time. The forward received the ball and drove it into the box to find the farpost, concluding the match.
How we lined up: Goss, Matuludi, Khoza, Ndamane, Modiba, Aubaas, Allende ©, Santos, Matthews, Leon, Mailula.
Subs: Onyango, Mvala, Basadien, Ntsabeleng, Zwane, van Wyk, Ndlovu, Sales, Rayners.
