It was raining goals at the Chatsworth Stadium when the Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Team defeated the Durban City Reserves 4-1 on Saturday morning. It was the first half heroics of Siyabonga Mabena, Bennet Mokoena and Kutlwano Letlhaku that saw Masandawana leave KwaZulu-Natal with all points on offer.
The visitors went into the game all guns blazing as they dominated the visitors half and created threatening opportunities.
Durban City had an opportunity as well after Tshiamo Masisi caused a foul. They were awarded a free kick which Zakhele Shabangu, the Downs goalkeeper, bucketed.
On the 8th minute, from a tight angle on the left, Mabena broke the deadlock after he squeezed in and took a chance. His attempt was successful as he found the farpost.
Letlhaku came close to teeing one up after there was a scramble in the box and the hosts were struggling to clear the ball. Unable to get it inside, his effort rolled off the mark by a few inches.
After continuously knocking on the door, Masandawana doubled their advantage on the 18th minute. It was Mokoena’s shot – that came from a well-executed build-up – that saw Mokoena score his 14th goal in the league.
A third goal was lurking for Bafana Ba Style. This time around, Kabelo Sibande was reluctant to take a chance, so he made a cross to Ntokozo Siquba who was a second late to connect with the ball. Two minutes later, an opportunity from Siquba’s headed effort was cleared on the line to deny the visitors.
Just before the half-hour mark, the visitors made it three goals but this time around, it came through an own goal after trying to clear Thato Sibiya’s danger on the left flank.
City almost got their first goal when they drove the ball to the box and made a cross. Luckily, Liam Marthinus snatched the ball and delivered it to Shabangu.
Before the break, coach Tiro van Rooyen’s men made it four goals. Mabena was unselfish with the ball on the left flank. He delivered it to Letlhaku who tapped it in to see Downs head to the break with a four-goal advantage.
The young Brazilians looked to make an immediate impact in the second stanza through Letlhaku but his effort was blocked by the defender in the box.
The hosts quickly recovered and created two big chances which were blocked by Shabangu.
From a counterpress effort, Letlhaku almost scored the first goal of the second half. He fired the shot from outside the box, forcing the keeper to run back to his mark to make a catch.
On the 78th minute, after beating the Downs defence, Durban City triggered a shot but Shabangu cleared. They found the rebound and scored.
In the final stages of regulation time, the keeper struck a shot which was well connected by the hosts and drove it to the box. They fired a shot which Shabangu stroked away with his fingers.
The final action of the match came from Letlhaku who took advantage of the goalkeeper who was off his mark. From the other half of the field, he fired a powerful shot that slightly missed the target to deny him a brace. Despite wanting more goals, Masandawana were happy to walk away with the three points.
How we lined up: Shabangu, Sibande, Felix, Marthinus, Sibiya, Masisi ©, Kekana, Mabena, Siquba, Mokoena, Letlhaku.
Subs: Biyela, Mswane, Jodamus, Booysen, Modika.
