After a few weeks of being on the road in the DStv Diski Challenge, MamelodiSundowns’ Diski Team made a return in their backyard this weekend. They hosted the Chippa United Reserves on Sunday morning where they emerged triumphant after playing to a 4-0 victory at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. It was Thato Sibiya, OneleRulwana, Kutlwano Letlhaku, and Bennet Mokoena who helped Masandawana win this game, together with the rearguard who ensured Masandawana walked away with a clean sheet.
The visitors were not resting on their laurels as they were seen persuing goals very early in the game. Their first attempt was cleaned up well by the centre-back, MatlhatsiMampane and goalkeeper, Nqobani Biyela.
The quick football and consistent pressing by the hosts forced mistakes out of the Chippa United defence. Maseko took advantage of their mistakes and intercepted a pass. He then pulled the trigger but his effort was cushioned by the goalkeeper.
Eventually, in the 30th minute, after knocking on the door and missing the mark by a few inches, the Brazilians found the breakthrough through Sibiya. The ball had come from Rulwana from a tight angle on the right. He squeezed the ball past the defenders in the face of the goal to find Sibiya who slotted it in.
Maseko, who took a lot of chances to put it past the keeper, closed off the first half proceedings with a fired shot but again, his strike found the bucket hands of the keeper. The hosts went to the interval leading with a goal.
Chippa returned to play guns blazing because, in the 50th minute, they applied pressure on Downs’ defense, which led to them making mistakes and conceding a foul. A free-kick was awarded to the visitors but nothing came out of it. Again, a few minutes later, they dribbled past the Downs’s defense, but luckily a high-alert Junaid Seedat made a flawless tackle to clear the ball.
After plenty of clear-cut chances created but missed the target, Rulwana fired a goal in the 67th minute. The ball had come from Chuene Moabelo who delivered it to Masekofrom in the middle of the park. Not able to position himself from a tight angle, Masekodelivered the ball to the far post finding Rulwana who got the job done.
Two minutes later, a short pass attempted by the goalkeeper was intercepted by Letlhaku, who wasted no time on the edge of the box and struck the ball inside the net.
In the final stages of the match, substitute, Sipho Ngqakabana was fouled on the edge of the box which led to the referee awarding Bafana Ba Style a free-kick. Taken by Gomolemo Kekana, he made a pass to Mokoena who took advantage of the napping Chippa defense and poked it in to make it four goals.
The young Masandawana were not satisfied with the goals scored. They wanted more because before the conclusion of the encounter, from range, Maseko fired a statement shot but the ball unluckily rattled the woodwork. After picking up three points at home, Bafana And Ba Style will start gearing up for the next meeting which is against Orlando Pirates.
How we lined up: Biyela, Norawana, Seedat, Mampane ©, Sibiya, Nkosi, Moabelo, Kekana, Rulwana, Maseko, Letlhaku.
Subs: Shabangu, Nkabinde, Booysen, Ngqakabana, Mokoena.
