The Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Team is beaming in prime following a hard-earned 2-1 victory over the Orlando Pirates Reserves on Sunday morning at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
It was given the fixture wasn’t going to be a walk in the park for both sides, considering they were consolidated with the best. For Masandawana, we saw the return of Akhanyile Norawana and Onele Rulwana who hadn’t made an appearance in over two months due to their injury layoff and the duo did not disappoint as they helped the team win against a difficult opponent.
The Brazilians looked threatening very early in the game as they looked to find the back of the net but the Buccaneers didn’t sit back as they snatched possession, looking to pull one back but the Downs defender, Matlhatsi Mampane made a clinical tackle to deny them an opener. With the numerous chances the visitors created, they were unable to convert as the Downs backline was tight for any shot to go past them.
Masandawana came close to the goal a few times, starting with Asekho Tiwani hitting a cross but there was no one on the near post to finish. Thapelo Maseko also had two chances to find the back of the net but the goalkeeper smacked the chances away.
Just after the 30-minute mark, an opener was finally witnessed in Atteridgeville which came through Rulwana. Left unmarked just outside the box, he made a low shot that left the goalie diving but the ball had long hit the net to break the deadlock for Bafana Ba Style. Pirates came close to level matters before the break but it is the hosts that went to the break with the upper hand.
Early in the second stanza, the Buccaneers were fouled just outside the box and were awarded a freekick which came close to coming in, but Nqobani Biyela, the Downs goalkeeper, hopped over to tip it away. Pirates earned a corner kick from that save which they were able to get a goal from to level matters three minutes into the second half.
Maseko fought very hard on the left flank to snatch back the lead for his side, with him being so close to converting numerous times but the Soweto Giants tightened their defense to ensure the game ended in a draw.
After continuously knocking on the door, in the 73rd minute, Bennet Mokoena managed to hit the tongue of the net from the edge of the box to take back the lead. Masandawana clinched the lead until the very end against an Orlando Pirates side that was resilient until the full-time whistle was blown.
How we lined up: Biyela, Norawana, Mampane, Biyela, Jodamus, Kekana, Nkosi ©, Rulwana, Mokoena, Maseko.
Substitutes: Shabangu, Mto, Masisi, Zandamela, Siquba.