JAPAN HERE WE COME
Sexy Downs sign off for the Fifa Club World Cup in sensational fashion
making it 18 goals in four matches.
Ahead of Downs’ departure tomorrow for the Club World Cup in Japan, coach Pitso Mosimane was without recent injury scares Anthony Laffor and Sibusiso Vilakazi, while pressing other key performers back into action.
Dolly and Billiat were back from shin-splint injuries, and Leonardo Castro made his first start, reuniting the “CBD” front combination for the first time in a starting line-up since July in the Champions League.
Stars coach Giovanni Solinas has introduced a number of young players for the resource-challenged Free State team, and brought back a notable resilience.
Of course, it was Sundowns who pushed at Stars’ three-man centreback and two wing-back defence for much of the first half, Ea Lla Kotlo mostly containing one of Africa’s fiercest club attacks quite well.
From an early corner, Sundowns central defender Wayne Arendse headed over, then Billiat had a solid drive at goalkeeper Thela Ngobeni.
In the 35th minute Dolly initiated an attack from his half on the left and, after a short passing combination on the edge of the area involving Castro and Billiat, was through down the middle to force a save from Ngobeni.
If that move suggested the “CBD” was back, then, after Bokang Tlhone’s header from a corner looped onto the crossbar for Stars, Downs’ opener confirmed it.
Billiat put Castro through into the box down the left, and he squared back to Billiat in space, the Zimbabwean slotting calmly past Ngobeni. Two minutes later, the impressive leftback Tlhone skipped down the left, freeing Sekotlong on the left of the box to curl a fine finish past Downs goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
This was not quite the script Downs wanted. But if it was a display in class the Brazilians were looking for ahead of an event against world stars, they provided it early in the second half.
When Sundowns turn it on, one can run out of superlatives to describe the sheer sexiness of it.
Billiat’s backheel put Tebogo Langerman into space on the left to cross for Tau, who seemed to hang in the air for the length of a flight to Japan before a classy headed connection past Ngobeni.
Dolly played two one-twos — with Billiat and then Castro — to go through and slam in a third. Tau practically jogged in a fourth, beating Langelihle Ndlovu on the left and advancing to finish past Ngobeni. he sustained this week.
“I played great and holed some nice putts. I feel very confident with my game. One more day of it all coming together will be nice.”
Stone caught a lucky break on 18 when he hit his approach long but it hit the tree alongside the green and dropped down rather than into the water on an island green that has sunk many a championship hopes.
But Schwartzel knows better than anybody how this tournament is won on Leopard Creek’s back nine, and his five birdies in six holes from the turn yesterday to keep himself within touch of Stone will be a warning for the younger South African.
“I need to put myself in play more on the front nine. I’m putting beautifully but I need to give myself more opportunities,” said Schwartzel.
“Brandon’s playing good golf so I know I’m going to have to bring something special to the final round.” Stone is waiting for it. “I really admire Charl and the way he plays golf. In my opinion, he’s in the top three of the best ball strikers I’ve ever seen in the game. There will definitely be something coming from him in the final round. He loves it here and I’m under no illusions that he is going to try and keep that trophy for himself.”