The Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Team have ignited the hopes of the DStv Diski Challenge title charge, after they played out to a 1-0 win against the Richards Bay Reserves on Sunday afternoon at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban. It was Kutlwano Letlhaku who netted the winning goal in the second half to see his side move up to the summit of the table.
The first real chance came from the away side in the early minutes of the match. Another serious opportunity to score came from the Natal Rich Boys but Malibongwe Khoza snatched the ball from the opponent to give it to the Downs keeper. Both sides showed equal hunger to find goals in the first stanza but couldn’t convert. They went into the break with no goals apiece.
The Brazilians managed to break the deadlock in the second half shortly before the half hour mark. The ball came from Siyabonga Mabena who found space and delivered it to Lethaku from distance. Letlhaku received the ball and volleyed it over the Richards Bay goalkeeper to open the scoring.
A similar opportunity came about a few minutes after the opener from Mabena. He managed to hop over the goalkeeper with the ball in the box but couldn’t position himself well enough to find the back of the net.
Another threatening chance came from the away outfit when Onele Rulwana almost found the back of the net from a good passage of play. He saw himself being closed up by the Richards Bay reargaurd in the box and decided to deliver the ball to Thando Buthelezi, who sent it back to Rulwana with a back heel pass. Rulwana’s shot on target was however smacked away by the keeper to deny him a goal.
A big save from a through pass by the reliable Downs keeper was made during the nine minutes of added time, to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Even though Masandawana were in the driving seat, they continued to look to double matters and kill the game but a 1-0 was good enough to see them collecting the three points away from home.
Starting XI: Raludzingana, Nkosi ©, Khoza, Mampane, Nkabinde, Rulwana, Norawana, Mabena, Buthelezi, Kekana, Letlhaku.
Subs: Mohlabine, Mohanwe, Mthembu, Nkonxeni, Ramotsei.
