Mamelodi Sundowns delivered a dominant performance to continue their perfect unbeaten league run at home when they won 5-2 against Amazulu FC on Wednesday night at Loftus Versfeld.
The hosts looked to assert their dominance very early in the game but the chances were swept away by the Amazulu defence.
A 25th minute goal from Brayan Leon is what saw Bafana Ba Style breakingthedeadlock. From a high ball, the Columbian found the rebound just on the edge of the box and fired a half-volley into the net.
Usuthu attempted to hit back to level matters but the hosts’ backline kept it tight as they continued with dominating the match.
It was obvious that a scoring machine that is the Brazilians was awake and more goals were to be witnessed at Loftus Versfeld. Following a foul on Leon, a free-kick was awarded to the hosts. Teboho Mokoena didn’t disappoint when he took the setpiece and doubled the advantage for Downs through a top right corner strike on the 31st minute.
Little action was witnessed in the remaining minutes of the opening half, seeing the hosts heading to the break with a two-goal lead.
The second stanza was not going to be easier for both sides and Usuthu proved that when they kicked off the second half with an early retaliation when they took advantage of the Downs defence that was compromised.
Masandawana responded a few minutes later to further extend their lead through Tashreeq Matthews. Siyanda Ndlovu had tried to find the back of the net but the keeper smacked the effort away. Matthews, however, found the rebound and slotted it in to make it three goals to one.
Not satisfied with the three goals, the Brazilians made it four on the 66th. Thapelo Morena played the ball to Matthews who made a home run to slot it in but his effort hit the woodwork and returned to him. He then set up Leon who wasted no time to put in, getting himself a brace.
Four minutes later, the KwaZulu-Natal side responded on the other end of the field, to reduce the goal difference to two. Ronwen Williams had come off his mark attempting to block the ball but it went past him, seeing Usuthu making it two goals.
Aubrey Modiba, who had just been introduced, set up Leon well inside the box but the keeper denied Leon. Immediately, the ball went to the other half of the field but a tackle by Grant Kekana saved the hosts from conceding another goal.
Usuthu tried to close down the gap but couldn’t and were instead, burried when substitute, Bennet Mokoena scored his first Betway Premiership goal to conclude the game.
How we lined up: Williams ©, Morena, Khoza, Kekana, Basadien, Mokoena, Mkhulise, Ndlovu, Matthews, Mailula, Leon.
Subs: Goss, Ndamane, Modiba, Ndamane, Allende, Zwane, Letlhaku, Rayners, B. Mokoena.
Hard fought victory. Nothing beats hard work and commitment, that is what made use win last night, if we continue with the same passion i see us going to the final of MTN8,we can’t be lazy and expect God to win us games, we must work very hard for our victories. I was happy to see Ndlovu making a tackle in our 18 area and also Mathews make it very difficult for the coach to drop him with his hard work and work rate, that is what we want to see in all our players ,working hard for the team .I also noticed that Mailula make us play well with how he comes deep to connect with the midfielders. Loved the fighting and aggression Teboho and Leon displayed. The coach is correct we are been targeted by opponents and the refs, the other game Khoza made a clean tackle and he was shown a yellow card and also ,Allende was hit by ball on the hand while he was down and he also got yellow card whereas opponents kick us without receiving any punishment.
Its so strange that Sundowns players receive career ending tackles and aggressive challenges like the one Mudau encountered yet we receive petty stupid yellow cards from referees for doing or committing nothing,I thought Victor Hlungwani was going to highlight the card given to Allende&I don’t know where does a player put when falling.A great game yesterday bt to witness Sundowns conceding 2 goals again and the same culprits again is the defense&goalkeeper misjudged the ball leaves a lot to be desired.Ronwen Williams I don’t think that he knows that he’s the captain of the team and is the one viewing danger.Yet he failed to warn or judge the danger.This is the same thing that will costs us when we need the result to separate a tie on goal difference.Bt anyway we take 3 points and go home.Thank you very much to the coach and his players for rising again after a setback