No quarter given as Downs ease past United
TOUGH TACKLING: Sibusiso Vilakazi, centre, of Mamelodi Sundowns is challenged by Reneilwe Letsholonyane, left, and Michael Morton of SuperSport United during their MTN8 quarter-final clash yesterday. Sundowns won the tricky encounter 3-1 to reach the semi-finals. The clubs fought over who should use the bench on the right, which is reserved for the away team.
But Sundowns sit on that side in their home matches here and at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville – a venue they share with United.
Both teams warmed up on one side, the right. They both went to that bench just before the match started. The PSL had to intervene.
They hit Sundowns with the rule book that they should sit on the left, even though the same PSL has allowed the Brazilians to do the opposite. For the good people of South Africa’s capital, this is what a real derby feels like.
That small drama was reminiscent of the minds games that Sundowns have endured on the road in their continental safari.
United responded in kind by not budging when Sundowns brought those tricks here.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori chairman Khulu Sibiya joked at the club’s awards on August 18 that they should silence their noisy neighbours.
Sibiya went as far as to say, “lapho kumele sikhiphe igoni”. That translates to, “We must bring a knife to that fight”.
His words were prophetic. The match was a street fight. But Matsatsantsa brought a blunt weapon.
Kingston Nkhatha sharpened things up, however, when he came on for Bradley Grobler with four minutes left in the first half.
The Zimbabwean scored with his first touch with a looping header from Jeremy Brockie’s cross to restore parity to the scoreline, despite the Brazilains’ Dennis Onyango best attempts to chase that ball down.
Earlier, United keeper Ronwen Williams saw the ball hit the back of his net after a scramble in the box. Wayne Arendse was quickest to react on a Keagan Dolly set-piece from the corner, leaving Williams flat-footed as the the Brazilians sneaked into the lead.
In the second half, Sundowns’ captain Hlompho Kekana had had enough of his side misfiring. He not only helped Sundowns move to the semi-finals of the tournament but also assisted Sibusiso Vilakazi in scoring his first goal in the Brazilian colours.
But Vilakazi’s goal was tinged with luck.
Kekana’s brilliant volley hit Vilakazi’s face, which directed the ball past Williams. When Khama Billiat curled in the third goal five minutes later, the match was already wrapped up.
For all of United’s brave fight, Sundowns countered it with their class to win their first match of the 2016/17 season comfortably. But the Brazilians have had plenty of practise for this campaign, playing four games while the other teams were in recess.
Juggling three competitions will test Sundowns’ depth, with the Absa Premiership to defend, two-legged MTN8 semi-finals and an appearance in the CAF Champions League semi-finals against Zesco United.
However, the first leg of that match in Zambia clashes with the second leg of Sundowns’ MTN8 tie with Chippa United on the weekend of September 17-18 in Pretoria.