It was a sold-out affair at the Danie Craven Stadium when Mamelodi Sundowns dealt Stellenbosch FC their first defeat in 26 games after a 2-1 victory in the Nedbank Cup semifinal on Sunday afternoon. An early goal from Khuliso Mudau and a late goal from Thembinkosi Lorch earned Downs a statement win to advance to the final round of the competition.
The visitors took the lead inside 11 minutes when Khuliso Mudau stumped the goalkeeper with a powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net to get his side an opener. Before they drew first blood, the combination of Tashreeq Matthews and Peter Shalulile posed a threat in the box but the Stellies keeper made a smart save.
It was far from a one-way traffic despite Downs’ lead, as the hosts also posed a couple of threats on the Downs rearguard. The hosts almost saw a goal but Ronwen Williams was equal to task as the ball landed in his bucket hands. A few more threats were posed in the visitors’ box but they amounted to nothing.
Two more opportunities from Matthews and Lucas Ribeiro occurred during the 13 minutes of added time to test Oscarine Masuluke but he blocked them both. The early goal separated the two sides at the halftime break.
The second stanza kicked off with a threatening opportunity from the Maroons after Iqraam Rayners capitalised on Bathusi Aubaas’ mistake. He then went on to take a shot but it went wide. There was another threatening attempt from the hosts which Mudau cleared but the ball found Rayners. He got fouled before he could take the ball to the area, earning his side a free kick. The kick was headed out of the area to deny them a goal.
With a relentless Stellenbosch side continuing to look for the leveller, the Pretoria-based side needed a second goal to be in the safe zone and it eventually came through Lorch. From the flank, Shalulile looked to the far side and lobbed it over to Lorch who found the back of the net on the 72nd minute.
Mudau was brought down in the box which earned his side a penalty. It was Shalulile who took the spot kick but it went over the bar to keep the score at 2-0.
On the 80th minute, Stellenbosch managed to pull one up at the other end. They started putting more pressure but Downs were equally at work to hold on to the lead until the final whistle.
Starting XI: Williams, Mudau, Lunga, Coetzee, Kekana, Aubaas, Allende, Zwane ©, Matthews, Ribeiro, Shalulile.
Subs: D. Onyango, Mvala, Modiba, Mkhulise, Mbule, Lorch, Esquivel, Nku, Morena.
Thanks for the win yesterday,Dr Khoza earlier this season promised us that we’ll get our stars on the jersey but up until today we didn’t get it and no one ever come and told us the reason of not getting it hope next season that promise will be fulfilled.
No complain this time about our team all is well,Kby forever
Can anyone tell if Rebeiro and Allende have played for their national teams because I think if not, SA can still naturalise these players to play for Bafana Bafana especially Rebeiro because we are thin in the striking department. Frannce is a great nation in football because it naturalises good players.SAFA is so inactive perhaps clubs can initiate these proposals.
Congrats to everyone Masandawana well done however Aubaas must correct his many errors of loosing balls to oponents, he must also try to be quick and read the game ,when the opponent loads on the left he must also shift to the left to add numbers to assist the left back,etc .Mudau must learn to put in pinpoint crosses and not just kick the ball to the box.Mvala must teach all the sundowns players how to kick the penulty because he is the only player who waits for the keeper to commit before he takes a penulty kick, the rest just kick and some are luck some not.Mvala just show them the technique.
Infact the technical team must compile all penulty kicks taken by Mvala so that players can look at the technic before Mvala takes them through in a training session.
Thanks for the win boys, hardluck to shasha he is a hardworking person but he no luck this days we love him though.Aubas must fix his errors Caz he loses the ball everytime., to the coaches it seems like Lunga is loosing to much high balls since from swallows game even stellebocsh ga. e
It’s amazing Masandawana you talking about penalty tactics…Bafwe2..you don’t need yonke lento…I was good at penalty playing at school..though never professional…nowadays it’s even much easier..goalkeepers only mover after you kick the ball..Ayanda member your right keepers always move first..and if they don’t put the ball near the goalposts finish..the minute he moves the ball is already on the line…best maybe advantage always watches the keeper…the problem is most players they never watch keepers but always watching the ball…I’ve seen them..please look at all penalty miss even Bernardo Silva..other jus kick and hope….this only lesson you hardly score if you both the keepers movement and the ball you kicking your bound to fail because you can’t balance the two..at once…you need to trust one and focused on another..most the keeper..it takes practice….this is like watching gears while driving surely you can’t see what’s is happening at the from..our eyes have a tendency of going same direction you can’t use one for left and other for right…injalo…thanks Masandawana …Mbombela is ours
Good win although we made an easy game seem to be difficult.We all love Peter and his hard work but,the decision to give him that penalty was not spot on,yes penalty is not always a goal but we must always hand it to our best kicker,there was Mkhulise,Ribero our usual penalty taker and also Allende.If you can check the penalty Peter took against Tuks i will put him number 11 on my list bcoz his penalty went in by God’s grace that day.The game plan and starting 11 to the substitution of Lunga was spot on.If we can approach all our remaining games that way,we are guaranteed wins in those games.My biggest concern is the way we receive unnecessary yellow cards,the yellow card for Lunga happened on the like close tho the center circle and it was uncalled for,against TS Mashego received a card for time waiting when we are leading 2-0 which was not necessary,besides refs always add those minutes,so we prolonging the game unnecessarily so.Masandawana let us become the first invincible team on our Continent. Good luck 2nite.