It was a momentous occasion for the Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Team when they bagged brotherly bragging rights and three points to maintain the top spot in the DStv Diski Challenge tally, in the Tshwane Derby on Saturday afternoon at the Tsakane Stadium. It is Keabetswe Ramotsei, Onele Rulwana and Thando Buthelezi’s heroics in goals that earned Coach Themba’s men a 3-0 victory against the SuperSport United Reserves.
The match kicked off with end-to-end football and both sides presenting scoring opportunities three minutes into the game. the first real shooting chance came from the home side but it looped high over the crossbar. Masandawana retaliated soon after, through Buthelezi but his positioning saw him shoot wide.
Masandawana cracked a bit under pressure in the first half as their Tshwane counterparts created numerous chances. Credit has to be given to Coach Themba’s rearguard that was threatened a couple of occasions but denied their opponents an opportunity to break the deadlock.
There was a chance for Matsatsantsa to open the scoring but Downs goalkeeper, Fanie Raludzingana, made an important save, making his side breath a sigh of relief. Despite SuperSport United Dominating the first half, it was the away team that broke the deadlock before heading to the break, through Ramotsei’s curler that found the right corner of the net. The Brazilians went to the break one goal up.
Bafana Ba Style kicked off the second stanza with more confidence as they created the first threatening chance of the second half. Rulwana delivered the ball to Ramotsei who passed it to Gomolemo Kekana. Kekana sent the goalkeeper to work when his strike was saved, denying the away side a chance to extend their lead.
A scramble in the box almost costed the Downs men but the home team were unlucky in finding each other to level matters.
A second goal for Sundowns had been looming and when it finally happened, it came from Rulwana. A mistake was made by the hosts which captain Ntando Nkosi capitalised from. He drove the ball from his half all the way to the other side of the pitch, put it past the keeper to find Rulwana and Rulwana finishing it off to make it two goals for his side.
Emotions were high as the young Spartans looked to find the net. They created two more threatening chances which could have seen them levelling matters. The first chance came through a free kick but it hit the woodwork and got cleared by Kutlwano Mohanwe. The second chance was a long-range strike, however, it also couldn’t find the back of the net.
Coach Themba’s charges started to look more confident and continued to search for more goals. They concluded the match with a Buthelezi goal to make it three. Buthelezi combined well with Shamir Mattera, who came in as a substitute in the last minutes of the match, making his debut. He delivered the ball to Mattera in order to position himself well. Mattera set Buthelezi to find the back of the net from a tight angle, to seal it for their side. Masandawana will be looking to continue with their scintillating form when they travel to Stellenbosch next week to face second positioned Stellenbosch FC.
How they lined up: Raludzingana, Nkosi ©, Khoza, Ndebele, Nkonxeni, Rulwana, Norawana, Mthembu, Buthelezi, Kekana, Ramotsei.
Subs: Shabangu, Mohanwe, Mattera, Mokoena, Masisi.
Well done boyz. I enjoy watching you more than the senior team. Keep going, a win against Stellies will put us within a touching distance of the DDC. What an excellent job Snethemba Badela has done with this team. It’s a pity our boyz from the DDC are not being given enough chance in the senior team, instead we’re being made to watch these overrated South Americans