An outstanding performance and a late winner from the Mamelodi Sundowns’ DiskiTeam earned them a 1-0 and a three-point advantage over the Orbit College Reserves in their last match of the year on Saturday morning at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
The hosts sought to assert their authority on the set with an attempt at a goal that came from Oarabile Booysen. He had driven the ball into the area from the right flank after dribbling through the Orbit defence. The goalkeeper, however, took a chance and came off his mark to clear the danger away.
Bennet Mokoena also took an early effort when he fired his famous, powerful shot from range, but the goalkeeper, again, smacked the effort away. The ball then found their defender, who did not waste time and kicked the ball out. The corner kick awarded to Downs did not amount to anything.
The clear-cut chances kept coming for the hosts, but they were just not getting it right with the finishing. Thato Sibiya, who had been running up and down the flanks, made a cross into the danger spot, but there was no one to connect the ball in the nearpost, which saw the Orbit defence clearing the ball away.
The North-West-based side looked to use their counterattacking to their advantage, and they got it right when Thabo Nkabinde lost the ball to them. They then drove the ball into the area and came face-to-face with Downs’ keeper, Nqobani Biyela, who impressively denied them by snatching the ball off the striker’s feet with his one foot.
Mokoena created Masandawana’s biggest chance in the closing stages of the opening half, through a shot inside the box, but couldn’t break the deadlock as it sailed over the bar.
The visitors closed the first half proceedings with a big chance that went across the face of the goal with no one to connect the ball to the net. This saw the two sides go to the interval goalless.
Bafana Ba Style continued to suffocate the Orbit College in the second half with their attempt to score goals. Booysen, again, had been supplying the ball into the area from the right flank, but there just wasn’t anyone to finish.
After Kabelo Sibande’s scoring effort was cleared, the hosts were awarded a corner kick. The kick found Nkabinde, who was on the edge of the box. Reluctant to take a shot, he delivered the ball to Mokoena, whose effort was blocked by the bodies of the orbit defence. Finding the rebound just inside the area, Gomolemo Kekana suffered the same fate.
Siyabonga Mabena saved his side from a dangerous scoring opportunity, which saw Orbit earn a corner kick that was tipped away by Biyela. The ball, however, remained in the field of play, which led to Orbit taking the rebound but being denied by the alert bodies of yellow, which were lined up in the area.
It was all disbelief that the game remained goalless for over 80 minutes, with both sides having had convincing chances. The scoreline, however, changed on the 83rd minute when Mokoena’s stunner found the right side of the net to break the deadlock for the young Brazilians.
Orbit still had the belief they could get a point out of the game as they managed to bypass the Downs rearguard and run to the area unmarked. A speedy Sibiya ran into the area to make a plausible sweep with a slide tackle. This became the moment that saved Downs, seeing them conclude the year with three points and a clean sheet.
How we lined up: Biyela ©, Sibande, Sithole, Nkabinde, Sibiya, Masisi, Kekana, Moabelo, Mabena, Mokoena, Booysen.
Subs: Shabangu, Seedat, Jodamus, Siquba, Mlondo.
