TOO GOOD FOR SUPERSPORT

Champs book MTN8 spot with 3-1 win over Tshwane rivals

MAMELODI Sundowns showed their quality – and intention – in their first domestic encounter of the season yesterday afternoon as they proved far too good for neighbours Super Sport United with an impressive 3-1 win that took the Brazilians to the semifinals of the MTN8.

Two goals in the last 15 minutes by Sibusiso Vilakazi and Khama Billiat settled the tie after it was deadlocked at 1-1.

Sundowns missed the start of the premier league in the midweek because they were in African Champions League action‚ so it was their season debut – and already they look a cut above the rest.

Vilakazi did not know much about his debut goal for Sundowns, as a shot from Hlompho Kekana hit him on the chin and deflected into the net.

Billiat then followed up with a goal five minutes later, after a smart build-up between Percy Tau and Vilakazi. The reigning PSL Player of Season placed the ball superbly into the net.

The start of the match was preceded by an argument over who warmed up on the right and who on the left of the halfway line on the field.

Under competition rules‚ Sundowns were meant to use the left side of the pitch, but argued they usually take the right.

With coach Pitso Mosimane providing an obstinate argument‚ both clubs bizarrely and stubbornly warmed up on one side of the pitch.

It was an embarrassing for South African football and the hot heads that instigated it will surely face some form of disciplinary action.

Sundowns eventually gave way and sat on the bench they were designated. However, all the prematch tension spilled over on the pitch from the start – with some tough challenges from SuperSport and early pushing and shoving between the players.

Super Sport’s Morgan Gould cluttered into opposition goal keeper Denis Onyango‚ earning himself a yellow card as early as the seventh minute.

A Sundowns corner led to the opening goal, when Super Sport failed to block a Vilakazi shot and the ball pinballed around before Wayne Arendse tucked it away from close range.

That changed the tempo of the game and Sundowns started to push – even more so after Percy Tau came on for an injured Leonard Castro.

But SuperSport clinched an equaliser with the first touch from Kingstone Nkhatha‚ who came on for the injured Bradley Grobler.

A chipped cross from Jeremy Brockie sailed over the head of new Brazilian Sundowns centre back Ricardo Nascimento and Nkhatha looped his header goalwards. The ball fell just inside the net.

Nkhatha might have had a second goal just seconds later from a quick counter by Nascimento, but the striker had a poor first touch and the chance was lost.

The second half was a lot slower in the heat.

It was only in the 72nd minute that we saw the first chance of the second half‚ spurned by Brockie.

Then came a pointblank chance for Vilakazi, with Super Sport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams making a brilliant save‚ only to be beaten from the resultant corner.

In the MTN8 semifinal draw‚ Sundowns were picked against Port Elizabeth’s Chippa United.

Cape Town City will take on Bidvest Wits in the other tie.