Coach Themba’s charges have enjoyed a successful weekend following an emphatic 4-0 victory against the Cape Town Spurs Reserves on Saturday morning at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. The Pretoria-based side went into the return fixture against Spurs well aware that nothing but a victory would earn them a lead extension at the summit of the DStv Diski Challenge.
The Brazilians had a sluggish start as their counterparts delivered threatening chances that could have seen them draw first blood but the Downs rearguard protected the box to deny Spurs any goal.
Bafana Ba Style were, however, the ones to find the precious opener in the 15th minute, through Keabetswe Ramotsei, who beat the visiting goalkeeper through a header. The goal came from a good set play following a free kick awarded to the home side after a foul on Onele Rulwana.
Downs looked to double their lead before the half time break but were struggling to convert. A threatening chance before the break came through Siyabonga Mabena who fired the shot from long range but the ball slightly went wide to deny his side a lead extension. It was Masandawana who went to the break with the upper hand.
The restart seemed to have helped the Brazilians as they started to find their groove and controlled proceedings to run out with three goals, courtesy of Siyabonga Mabena, Onele Rulwana and Bennet Mokoena.
The Sundowns men created more chances and were more confident. A chance to score the second goal came from Thando Buthelezi who delivered the ball to Rulwana but the attempt went straight to the goalkeeper’s hands after he kicked the ball from a very tight angle. After multiple attempts to find the double leader, Mabena scored through a Buthelezi assist to make it two for Downs.
More goals were looming as The Pretoria-based outfit continued to create chances, as they were not satisfied with the two goals. Buthelezi kept looking to put his name on the scoresheet with the many chances he created. Another dangerous chance from him came in shortly before the hour mark when he shot straight to the box but the visiting keeper cushioned the ball to deny him a goal.
Seven minutes after the goal from Mabena, a third goal came. It was Rulwana – who has been enjoying goalscoring moments in the DStv Diski Challenge – who fired the third goal to extend the lead for his side.
The fixture was wrapped up in the 86th minute by debutant, Bennet Mokoena, when he added a sumptuous fourth in front of the home supporters to conclude the victory in style.
The 4-0 victory against the Urban Warriors meant that the Diski Team remain unbeaten at home and are now on their 10th clean sheet of the season. Furthermore, they have managed to bag 50 points so far this season, with eight games remaining.
How they lined up: Raludzingana, Nkosi ©, Khozam Mampane, Nkabinde, Rulwana, Norawana, Mabena, Buthelezi, Kekana, Ramotsei.
Subs: Shabangu, Mohanwe, Mthembu, Mokoena, Masisi.
