Mamelodi Sundowns have secured the final spot in the MTN8 semifinals. This comes after a 4-0 victory against Richards Bay FC in their season opener on Sunday night at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
It only took Masandawana ten minutes to break the deadlock through Iqraam Rayners. The goal materialised from Arthur Sales’ corner kick, whose ball bounced before connecting with Rayner’s head to hit the net.
While the hosts dominated most of the opening half, the Natal Rich Boyz also had a few opportunities to test the Downs defence. There was a mistake made by Marcelo Allende, which was countered by Richards Bay. While trying to block the ball from moving forward for the visitors, Teboho Mokoena committed a foul, earning Richards Bay a free-kick. The set-piece amounted to nothing as the wall of yellow shirts blocked the ball.
Rayners almost registered a brace a few minutes after the clock hit the half-hour mark. He’d made a good run to the opposition’s half after being served with a long ball that came from the other half. His run to the net was met by the goalkeeper to deny him.
Inside the stoppage time of the first stanza, the second goal came for the Pretoria-based side, but it is credited to their opponent. Sales set up Mokoena, whose intention was to hand the ball to Rayners, who was in a better position to score. With pressure piling up for them, the Richards Bay defence tried to clear the ball away but ended up scoring an own goal. With not much action in the final three minutes of added time, Bafana Ba Style headed to the interval two goals up.
The KwaZulu-Natal side opened the second half with a dangerous chance on the left flank. Luckily, with no blue shirts in front of the goal to slot it in, the shot just passed the face of the goal. On both the attack and defence, they looked more clinical than they were in the opening half.
Downs’ first chance of the second stanza came in the 51st minute. Allende set Rayners up, but the pass was slightly powerful for Rayners to get it. Three minutes later, Rayners finally got it right and made it three for his side. The ball came from Sales to set up Rayners, who made a perfect run and curled it in on the nearpost.
In the last 20 minutes of the match, Ronwen Williams was tested by the Richards Bay attack, bu
t through his high alertness and the help of his backline, they were able to clear the ball.
Siyabonga Mabena, who came in as a sub in the final stages of the match, scored the fourth and final goal of the night for the Brazilians through a powerful defence-splitting pass from the left flank to find the back of the net.
Four goals and a clean sheet were enough to see Masandawana through to the next round of the cup competition. The two-legged semifinal round will see them meeting Orlando Pirates.
How we line up: Williams, Mdunyelwa, Cupido, Kekana, Modiba, Mokoena, Allende, Zwane ©, Sales, Rayners, Matthews.
Subs: Onyango, Lebusa, Basadien, Lunga, Adams, Mkhulise, Mabena, Letlhaku, Maseko.
Congratulations to the technical team and the players for a great and entertaining win and also the supporters who braved the chilly weather.I noticed lot of changes and improvement from the team,1.speed of play,2.ball retention and quick rotation at the back, there was more forward passes from Kekana and Cupido,Williams never received many back passes and that is how we used to hurt teams with Nascimento’s through ball from the back.3.Played forward entertaining football,4.our intensity last throughout the game,5.the overall hunger from the players was pleasing and also the average age is pleasing.I was happy to see Mdunyelwa playing,the boy is solid and aggressive,he just need to work on offensive aspect of his game,with more game time we are going to see the best of him.I still believe in Maseko,he just need patience and proper coaching.I don’t know what’s happening with Nasir,the boy is talented,pacey and lethal in front of goals,we really need him if we are going to lose Rebeiro.I urge management and the technical team to work on him.Lastly to the technical team,let’s build on the performance and system of last night,let’s work on making sure that all players in the team master that system so that there is continuation when one play is injured,suspended and tired whoever comes in the performance doesn’t drop.I was happy and thoroughly entertained last night for that i say bravo.