Mamelodi Sundowns’ Diski Team collected all points on offer on Sunday following a 2-1 victory against the TS Galaxy Reserves at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium. It was Simphiwe Mlondo’s brace that saw Bafana Ba Style emerging as the victorious side in what was a titanic tussle.
The first scoring chance came from the visitors on the 5th minute. Simphiwe Mlondo was set up nicely outside the box where he triggered a shot but was saved by a diving keeper.
Intercepting the ball inside the box on the tenth minute, Mlondo’s effort to find the back of the net sailed over the bar. A minute later, Mlondo, again was set up by Kamohelo Mareletse with a defence-splitting pass. An unmarked Mlondo made a good run to the box to shoot but he was denied by the woodwork.
The first convincing chance for the hosts came on the 25th minute from a corner kick. The ball entered the box and through a lobbing effort, they almost broke the deadlock but Downs keeper, Ethan Garcia caught it.
On the 33rd minute, Masandawana finally broke the deadlock. Sechaba Gaseitsiwe struck a shot from the right flank but the ball was cleared just before it could cross the goal line. Mlondo, however, found the rebound and wasted no time to slot it in.
The Rockets responded on the 41st with a goal to level matters. The ball came from the left flank to find the farpost.
In the final minutes of the match, Masandawana almost snatched back their lead from a corner kick. Tswelelo Maake took time to take shot inside which was eventually cleared away on the goal line. After end-to-end football in the final stages of the first half, the two sides went to the interval with a goal apiece.
The visitors kicked off the second half with a half chance inside the box. Shaun Masete’s opportunity was denied by the keeper.
On the 69th minute, Mlondo, again, doubled matters for Bafana Ba Style. Inganathi Simama set him up nicely and this time, he didn’t miss the mark as he put it past the keeper.
Simama also almost added his name on the scoresheet in the closing minutes of the match. Set up nicely inside the box, he fired a shot but the keeper dived to tip the ball away from target. While they tried to search more goals, the young Brazilians had to settle for the 2-1 scoreline.
How we lined up: Garcia, Sibande ©, Qotoyi, Maake, Modikwe, Simama, Nxumalo, Mareletse, Gaseitsiwe, Mlondo, Masete.
Subs: Radebe, Mahlangu, Marthinus, Masisi, Moss.
