Mamelodi Sundowns registered a comprehensive 2-0 victory on Wednesday evening when they hosted Polokwane City for a league return fixture at Loftus Versfeld.
Seeking to shake off memories of the first meeting between the two sides this season, Masandawana looked to stretch the Polokwane City defence on the hybrid pitch. That was achieved as the hosts created a lot of threatening chances, especially in the opening minutes of the match.
After a titanic tussle between the two sides, the deadlock was broken in the 27th minute by youngster Kutlwano Letlhaku. The ball came from Aurthur Sales, who found space in front of the Polokwane City defence to backfoot pass it to Letlhaku. The 18-year-old striker cut inside and shot a powerful finish that went past the goalkeeper to register his first league goal.
The opener was a confidence booster for Bafana Ba Style as they looked hungrier to see more goals in the opening half. Not long after the opener, they conjured up another chance through Divine Lunga but were unlucky not to get it in the net.
Rise and Shine were equal on the attack as they tried to capitalise on their counterattacks. The biggest threat from their side came from a counterattack, which saw their striker drive the ball to Sundowns’ box, but Ronwen Williams anticipated the danger and went out of the box to quickly clear the ball. Despite a first half full of threatening chances by both sides, it was the hosts who went to the break with a goal advantage, courtesy of Letlhaku.
The return of play saw a stronger Mamelodi Sundowns side as they looked to extend their advantage. On the 50–minute mark, the hosts created two clear-cut chances from Neo Maema and Sphelele Mkhulise, but the finishing wasn’t to perfection as they missed the target.
Another agonising big chance came from Letlhaku as he aimed for the near post, but the ball hit the side of the net. Another opportunity from Letlhaku was snatched off his feet in the 18-area by the goalkeeper.
Loftus Versfeld almost saw an equaliser from Rise and Shine just before the hour mark, but luckily for the hosts, the header from range was miscued.
A lead extender finally came in the 68th minute through Letlhaku, who was named man of the match. Sales capitalised on an error made by the visitors on the left flank as he intercepted the ball. He then unselfishly supplied the ball to Letlhaku, who made a simple tap-in to record himself a brace.
The night was concluded by a big effort from the Limpopo-based side, but Williams was very alert as he bucketed the ball and maintained another clean sheet for his side. The Brazilians remain second on the tally, only three points below the side that currently holds the first position.
How we lined up: Williams, Khoza, Maboe, Lebusa, Morena, Mkhulise, Maema, Lunga, Letlhaku, Sales, Shalulile.
Subs: Onyango, Mdunyelwa, De Reuck, Mashego, Modiba, Allende, Saavedra, Maseko, Rayners.
I honestly had my doubt with too many changes but the boys did very well under the circumstances.I’m not crucifying but just stating the honest truth of all the players given the chance, Maema was very much disappointing,he was losing the ball cheaply,playing back passes,when he saw he was about to be replaced he started to play positive football or maybe the position given to him doesn’t suits him.Saavedra played very well,he changed the complexion of the game.My big worry is the constant overlooking of Kodisang,the boy plays well whenever given a chance,some players are given chance after chance even when doing bad,why is he not given a chance after a good performance,we want all our apples in one basket.Good luck on Carling cup ,bring it home.
Downs I’m pleading with you to give a coach and his staff to do what’s they know best ours is to support,all of this players We bought are there to play not just to cash their salaries.
Ì always watch “Fans Cam”on YouTube you’ll find people says so and so is not Downs material Mudau and Modiba must always plays but they easily forget that those players are regulars on Bafana and also at Downs they’re too many games fatigue and injuries will eventually crippled them when we needed them most,they’re not machines but human beings,last season Rhulani played almost the same squad even we won the league just because he was obsessed with records and in our game against Swallows he fielded Mokoena and the poor guy got injured on our next game against Esperance he wasn’t there just recently he was crying about workload on Zwane where he said you can’t play a 34 year old everytime and people insult and blame him look where Zwane is today.
Lastly I always envy other teams youngsters as if we don’t have our own,let the coach unleash them now so that they can get the experience,look at Barca most of those are below 18 years.
My question is if we don’t want so and so to be in starting line up or sit on the bench when that poor players will get an experience,sometimes I just wish we’ve got just a squad of twenty players maybe this noise will stop who knows.Let’s not fooled by Bucs supporters where they keep on blaming Downs for the large squad forgetting that their players are keep on sitting on grandstand same line up players like Ndlondlo,Kimviudi and Mthethwa etc but Champs League playing and travelling will catch up with them,Kby forever