Mamelodi Sundowns’ Diski Team emerged as the victorious side against the Durban City Reserves at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 5-2 was the result following Oarabile Booysen’s goal and Bennet Mokoena’s double brace.
Downs’ Gomolemo Kekana pulled the first trigger in the fourth minute with a long-range effort but narrowly missed the target. It is the visitors, however, who broke the deadlock in the seventh minute after beating the Downs rearguard just outside the area.
Five minutes later, Masandawana levelled matters through Booysen. It came from a long pass on the other half, which Booysen received. He made a good run forward and from the flank, found the back of the net.
Bafana Ba Style continued looking to snatch the lead, and when the opportunity finally came for them, it came in the form of a penalty kick. Thato Sibiya was challenged inside the box, earning his side a penalty. From the spot, Mokoena fired a shot to put his side ahead.
The young Brazilians continued to dominate the opening stanza with a high press. They were quick to block any chances coming from the KwaZulu-Natal side. In the 27th minute, Ntokozo Siquba made a cross in front of the goal, and Mokoena managed to tap it in to make it three for his side.
In the final stages of the first half, two more goals were witnessed in Kwa-Mhlanga, and both of them were from Mokoena, who netted them in a space of a minute. The hosts went to the interval with a 5-1 lead.
The Brazilians picked up where they left off when they returned to play. Siquba almost found the back of the net, but the keeper smacked it away. Chuene Moabelo found the rebound took a shot, but the ball rolled a few inches off target.
The visitors started picking up some chances, and they almost found their second goal with a powerful shot, but Nqobani Biyela denied them when he jumped to smack the ball away.
Durban City looked more convincing, and they were creating many chances; they were not just getting it right with going past the goalkeepers.
In the last ten minutes of the match, Downs almost made it six goals through Booysen, but he just couldn’t get it right.
Just before the full-time whistle, Durban City were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the area. The shot found the back of the net to end the game with a 5-2 scoreline.
How we lined up: Biyela ©, Sibande, Nkabinde, Seedat, Sibiya, Kekana, Moabelo, Masisi, Booysen, Mokoena, Siquba.
Subs: Menemene, Maake, Jodamus, Mlondo, Mareletse.
