The Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Team registered their first defeat on Saturday as they lost in a 2-1 clash against the Magesi FC Reserves at Giant Stadium. It was Thulani Zandamela who tried to keep the hope alive for the young Brazilians, but the two goals from their Magesi counterparts denied them a chance to continue with the winning streak.
The hosts asserted their dominance, especially in the first few minutes of the match, with a dangerous chance created from a good team play within three minutes, but the goalkeeper came out to make a save for his side.
The visitors started applying pressure too and were creating chances but the Downs keeper together with the defence squad made important saves. In no time, very early in the match, Masandawana were forced to play with ten men after a dangerous tackle on one of the Magesi players, which compelled the referee to give marching orders.
With so much effort of knocking on the door, it finally paid off for Bafana Ba Style as they found the back of the net through Zandamela, who has already recorded five goals in three matches. It came from Gomolemo Kekana’s corner kick then Zandamela finished it amidst a scramble in the box, to open the scoring for his side.
Magesi were equal with the efforts as they retaliated, and it did not take them time before they levelled matters. As they continued to apply pressure in Masandawana’s box, a tackle happened, earning Magesi a penalty which they scored to make it 1-1. Even with the efforts from both sides to snatch the lead, the first stanza ended with one goal apiece.
Downs looked to pick up from where they left off when they came back from the break, but it was their opponents who managed to find the back of the net first. The ball came from the left flank to go past the Downs defenders then shot on the tongue of the net to extend their lead.
The hosts were fighting back until the very end with plenty of dangerous chances but were unable to find goals, even after Magesi were one man down after the referee gave one of their players marching orders. Having dropped points at home, the young Brazilians will look to turn things around when they travel to the winelands next weekend to face Stellenbosch FC.
How we lined up: Shabangu, Mampane, Sibiya, Nkabinde, Nkosi ©, Ngqakabana, Rulwana, Kekana, Zandamela, Mabena, Letlhaku.
Subs: Biyela, Sithole, Booysen, Mokoena, Mokoele.
