Heroic goals from Tashreeq Matthews and Thapelo Morena seven minutes into the game, have helped Mamelodi Sundowns grab all points on offer after defeating Sekhukhune United 2-1 on Tuesday evening at Loftus Versfeld.
The match kicked off with the host team making an immediate impact through goals. Just when the clock hit a minute, the pace of Morena was crucial as he made a run on the shoulder to score but his effort was cleared. Matthews was able to find the rebound on his second start of the season, to open the scoring from his side.
Sekhukhune United’s retaliation almost saw them levelling matters when Vusimuzi Mncube snatched the ball from Brian Onyango to cut back to Linda Mntambo but Mntambo’s shot went wide. Six minutes later, Matthews’s pressing paid off as a second goal came for the home side. As Matthews made that interception, he gave the cut back to Morena who sticked the ball to the back of the net to make it two.
Babina Noko’s Jamie Webber had a threatening chance after pressing Mosa Lebusa and taking the ball to the box but nothing came from the drive he made. He created another chance after going past Lebusa. Webber tried to make a cross to Mntambo but Denis Onyango made a save. A forced changed was made for Downs following a blow on Onyango while making the save. Jody February came in just before the break.
Upon his introduction, February was tested as he had a moment of brilliance when he made a save with his left hand by smacking away the headed attempt by the visitors. The Brazilians went to the break with a two-goal advantage.
Play resumed with a goal from Sekhukhune United, scoring a few minutes into the second half. This came after the referee pointed to the spot following a foul on the visitors in the box.
Terrence Mashego, who cam in as a substitute almost made it three for his side. It was his excellent turn to evade the Babina Noko defence that saw him drive the ball as the defence offered him space. His chance got challenged in the last minute to deny him a goal.
February made another excellent save as he was tested. His great reflexes helped him smack the ball out after a shot was fired to the left side of the box. Masandawana were able to hold on to the lead until the final whistle, putting them on 56 points on the tally.
How we lined up: D. Onyango, Maboe, B. Onyango, Lebusa, Coetzee, Nku, Maema, Mkhulise, Morena, Matthews, Mendieta.
Subs: February, Mashego, Seabi, Mbule, Nkosi, Buthelezi, Mabena, Esquivel, Sirino.
well played to the boys and thanks to your hard fought. I must says this onyango brain was a disappointment yesterday Caz everytime he touches the ball he looks like he was not prepared to play or forced to came in. sundownsfc is big team and everyone a player given a chance to must show he worth. maema must pull up his socks Caz he was loosing too much the ball. thanks to all and mouris you played very well boy.
Sorry I mean matthews
Thank you for the win yesterday but I know come Friday we will be told that eighty percent that was playing yesterday are groin or hamstring injuries stage three as its a norm nowadays at Downs.
Guys it’s time to release both Onyangos tjoo mina I’m enough with them really they must go back to their respective countries next season,coach pls use Tashrèeg and Shalulile on Friday you won’t regret.
Sandawana, what is wrong with Dennis Onyango, yes Brian is a big liability
Congratulations to the boyz, even though I was so disappointed in Maema and Mkhulise. I was really expecting them to carry the team, but I still don’t understand how Maema finished the game. I expect players, even after spending time on the sidelines to perform like Riva and Dennis Onyango. Well done to Tashreeq, Morena, Onyango, February and the evergreen Riva for the outstanding performances. How I wish I could give Riva my legs 🦵🏾 to stay injury-free. He’s the only holding midfielder that can pick-up his fellow player with a long-range forward pass.
To Rulani, no supporter can tolerate school boy mistakes,you can’t build a double store house on the foundation of a single store house.You don’t have the players to play that system at the,it is only Riva who is capable of playing that system.If you can check against Esperance Kekana and Mvala were just stagnant ,they can’t even move with the ball,they were just passing the ball among themselves and the keeper.B Onyango,Lebusa,and D Onyango are just not for that system,they lack ball control.Whoever signed Brain Onyango should be arrested they doesn’t deserve to play for Downs,he should have been replaced immediately after receiving a yellow card, that also made me reaslize that we have a technical team with shallow minds,it was Riva against Skhukhune at the back.Mandieta,Maema and Mbule should be replaced by diski players,they are not ready to play for us.Mattews,Riva,Morena,Maboe,Mkhulise and Nku were marvel to watch.There’s no comfort in the truth,Lorch doesn’t deserve to play ahead of Mathews,Maboe and Morena,in fact,as to why are they no playing regularly only coach knows.If we can start with Mathews instead of Lorch,Maboe for Zwane and let Modiba play the role of Zwane and Riva for either Kekana or Mvala we shall be home and dry.Mathews is you,fast, skillful,lot of energy and above all football brains,even when he shoots 9/10 is on target.We have been telling the coach refrain from playing names and reputation and play players on merit.
Well done to the entire team, we will get our rhythm back, slowly but surely.
In our coach and players we believe, it won’t always be easy out there but your best is all we want, win or lose, we are there all the way.
I know you guys can do it, we did it against a tougher opponent (Wydad)
So Rhulani just wanted 2 b insulted by the whole country 2 select fringe players &guess what they ddnt disappoint at all.Well done 2 the boys yesterday we dd what we had 2 do,congratulations again 4 a determined performance.
Attention Sundowns family! As a passionate member of the Sundowns community, I stand firmly against booing, knowing the negative impact it has on our players and team dynamics. I wholeheartedly support the coach’s call to stop the booing. However, let’s not forget the past mistakes. The previous coach, Pitso, had a preference for George Maluleke, which turned out to be the biggest mistake as he didn’t offer us much. It was an uphill battle for him, and because the coach preferred him, he wanted to prove a point, which didn’t work for Sundowns.
But let’s remember, we are all part of this journey together. As I believe Lorch is yet to fully integrate with his teammates, it’s important for us to show our support and understanding. Easing him into games as a sub could work wonders, but not as a starter. From our standpoint in the stands, we can sense when things aren’t clicking for the team. While Shalulile may miss chances, the Sundowns family stands by him, understanding the bond he’s built with us over the years. New players need time to establish this, especially when we’re craving victories. It’s the coach’s duty to shield such players, and I truly believe Lorch is a gem, but his inclusion has slightly altered our play. That’s my take. Same lineup for me, but let’s include Shasha this time, and we’ll be golden. Let’s learn from this as we stand together and support the team. See you at the next game!
Rulani once said he watches Brighton and that he told players to do the same,we as supporters we also do that and i have realized where this nonsense of playing from the back comes from.It is not a problem to copy what other big teams in the world are doing but ,it becomes a problem when you copy things that are not yielding good results.Just this season the very same Brighton Rulani is copying they are number 11 on the log,they have zero win in the last 5 games and never reached the quarter finals of any cup,scored 2 goals in 5 games and they are even behind us in FiFA rankings,they have achieved nothing,if they have won a cup,it was before Rulani was born.He is even lying to us Sundowns never used keeper and back line to play shoe shine and piano,when people talk about shoe shine they don’t mention Ewie Kampule,Bricks Mudau or Mark Anderson,you will hear the likes of Zane or Mtawali.Last nite i saw his Brirghton been humiliated by City in the name of building from the back.What he is implementing is good for development players,we know 90% of our defenders are not comfortable on the ball.Just because someone has good coaching qualifications doesn’t make him a good coach,if that was the case,a coach with higher qualifications would always the one the lesser qualifications,even the likes of Sello Chokoe and Thobejane with zero or less qualifications beat European coaches who have sophisticated qualifications.God gave us all brains to think therefore we must come with our own ideas and not copy others.Just imagine if we were still the ideas of the people born before us,where would the world be by now? GOOD LUCK TONIGHT HOPE WE ARE GONNA USE OUR OWN IDEAS.