Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 Maritzburg United
Date: 21 September 2019
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns struck in the dying stages of the second half to secure a 2-1 win over Maritzburg United and maintained their unbeaten start to the Absa Premiership season.
Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane made three changes from the side that lost to SuperSport United in the MTN8 Cup semi-final, with Tiyani Mabunda alongside the returning Sibusiso Vilakazi and Motjeka Madisha.
The Brazilians could have opened the scoring in the tenth minute after Themba Zwane missed a golden chance inside the box after a long throw by goalkeeper Denis Onyango, while Kutumela was denied the breakthrough for the visitors five minutes later by the Sundowns shot-stopper in a frantic start from both sides.
Masandawana nearly went 1-0 ahead ten minutes before the break after shot-stopper Richard Ofori slipped while receiving a diagonal back-pass, which presented the ball to Jose Ali Meza who could only fire wide with the gaping.
That did not matter though, as Gaston Sirino broke the deadlock for the Brazilians moment with a neat curling finish from close range after turning Rushine De Reuck inside-out.
The Team of Choice pressurised Sundowns in the early stages of the second stanza which resulted in the the equaliser 11 minutes after the break thanks to Siyanda Xulu, who netted a header at the back post following a corner by Daniel Morgan.
The Brazilians had a great chance to restore their lead with 21 minutes remaining after Hlompho Kekana sent Tebogo Langerman clear on goal, but the left-back’s shot was saved by Ofori in a one-on-one situation.
Mosimane’s men were sending numbers forward in search of the winner in the closing phase and using the pace of Phakamani Mahlambi and Thapelo Morena to stretch the Maritzburg defence and although they created chances they were not clinical in front of goal.
However, Lyle Lakay snatched the winner for Sundowns in stoppage time with a thumping volley past Ofori as Maritzburg’s winless run continues.
Here’s how they lined up:
Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 27. Morena, 2. Madisha, 5. Lebusa, 4. Langerman, 13. Mabunda, 8. Kekana, 18. Zwane, 10. Sirino, 11. Vilakazi, 7. Meza
Subs: 1. Mweene, 15. Jali, 1. Ngcongca, 17. Mahlambi, 7. Lakay, 21. Mkhulise, 40. Coetzee.
Maritzburg: 31. Ofori, 25. Xulu, 5. Morgan, 23. De Reuck, 45. Mngonyama, 4. Allie, 15. Ntshangase, 17. Claasen, 35. Timm, 20. Kutumela, 9. Augusto.
Subs: 30. Mpandle, Sangweni, 26. Shandu, 19. Jappie, 20. Moseamedi, Nyoni, 36. Kunene.
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Source: soccerladuma
