Downs show AmaZulu no mercy

Mamelodi Sundowns showed complete dominance in their 5-0 Telkom Knockout thrashing over out-of-sorts AmaZulu at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Sunday afternoon.

With this victory, the Brazilians join Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United, who have already booked their places in the next round.

Sundowns went to halftime with a slender lead of 1-0 from the effort of Ali Meza, but they were ruthless after the break with four more goals as they made clear their intentions of winning this trophy.

Pitso Mosimane’s men put this impressive performance in front of Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp, whom they meet in a crunch Absa Premiership clash next weekend.

It took Sundowns until the last minute of the first half to take the lead, when unmarked Meza connected with a pinpoint pass from Sibusiso Zwane inside the box.

Before the goal, Sundowns fans were left frustrated as the likes of Zwane, Hlompho Kekana, Thapelo Morena, Gaston Surino and Meza wasted numerous good scoring chances.

At numerous moments in the game, they left AmaZulu off the hook as they went for wrong options or they were denied by alert visiting goalkeeper Neil Boshoff, who pulled some good saves.

It was not only Sundowns who provided some good attacking moments as AmaZulu also threatened with the likes of Buthulezwe Ncube, Ovidy Karuru and Bonginkosi Ntuli.

The carnage started after 55 minutes when AmaZulu debutant Mario Booysen shot himself in the foot when he beat his own goalkeeper Boshoff with a header that increased Sundowns’ lead.

Sundowns midfielder Andile Jali played a long pass into the AmaZulu danger area from the midfield aimed at advancing Meza but Booysen got to the ball first and flicked it backwards but Boshoff had moved out of his line.

Sundowns put matters beyond doubt on the 70th minute when Sirino beat Boshoff from the penalty spot after Morena was hacked inside the penalty box by Mbongeni Gumede.

Sirino completed his brace a few minutes later as Sundowns exposed the poor AmaZulu defence of Thembela Sikhakhane and Tapelo Gumede and took firm control of the match.

Then Mauricio Affonso joined the scoring party three minutes from time as the Brazilians stormed into the quarterfinals in style and with five unanswered goals.

Meanwhile, Highlands Park moved to the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over a 10-man Black Leopards on Sunday.