No trouble for Downs
NEDBANK CUP: SINK RICHARDS BAY COMFORTABLY TO MOVE INTO NEXT ROUND
It was not to be another giant-kiling act as the KZN side were outclassed by a welloiled Masandawana.
It was not the giant-killing script that some football lovers anticipated when Richards Bay hosted Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup last-32 yesterday evening, as they succumbed 4-0 to a well-oiled Masandawana machine.
Peter Shalulile got the cherry on top in the dying moments of the game but the defending champions got the initial advantage in the first half already, courtesy of a goal from new signing Bradley Ralani.
The 34-year-old midfield wizard proved why he is worthy of a contract at Downs after his switch from Cape Town City, which was questioned by many who could not figure out why Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokoena recruited him.
Ralani’s goal was created by Thabiso Kutumela, who fired a shot at Malcom Jacobs and the goalkeeper parried it into the path of the alert Ralani and he netted on his Masandawana debut.
The second goal came from an unlikely source as defender Rushine De Reuck headed home in the 53rd minute.
Kutumela, who was withdrawn just after the hour-mark, was again involved in the making of the goal as he swung in a corner to find De Reuck in mid-air.
The hosts were not totally outplayed as they had a couple of attempts at Kennedy Mweene’s goal.
On the hour mark Vusimuzi Mngomezulu fancied his luck from range, testing Mweene but the veteran shot-stopper was up to the task.
The Sundowns mentors introduced Teboho Mokoena in the 61st minute, giving the 25-year-old his Downs debut after he signed from cross-town rivals SuperSport United. Mokoena was deployed deep in midfield alongside skipper Andile Jali as Rivaldo Coetzee made way.
In the 67th minute, Khuliso Mudau found himself face-to-face with Jacobs, but the right-back, who does not have a striker’s instinct, tried to sneak the ball through the legs of Jacobs who had the near-post covered and did ever-so-well to make the stop.
Man-of-the-Match Mudau could not score the goal himself and decided to turn provider with a pin-point cross that found Pavol Safranko.
It took the Slovakian about 10 minutes to make an imprint on the game after he came off the bench. The lanky striker then asked to be withdrawn five minutes from full-time. limping off in some discomfort, with what seemed like an ankle injury.
The Brazilians will resume their DStv Premiership title defence on Monday when they host a wounded Chippa United side.
The Chilli Boys did not have a good day in the office in the capital city as they were brought to their knees and lost 2-0 to Tuks UP in Pretoria in the last-32.