Sundowns get revenge
Holders Celtic thrashed 4-0 and Stars beat United 2-0
MAMELODI Sundowns served Bloemfontein Celtic with a cold dish of revenge for last year’s Telkom Knockout final defeat by annihilating the defending champions 4-0 in Botshabelo yesterday.
It was Downs’ most complete performance under Pitso Mosimane, who picked up the pieces following the end of Johan Neeskens’ term late last year.
In the Free State, his side were calm, spectacular, a touch arrogant and merciless — everything they were not when they lost 1-0 in last year’s final in Durban.
Sure, they beat Celtic convincingly in a league game at the start of the season, but this was a much sweeter victory because of the psychological edge Celtic had over Sundowns prior to kick-off.
Sundowns started with just three players who were part of last year’s controversial final, while Celtic retained seven, plus former Downs defender Clayton Daniels, whom they signed this season.
Another signing Khama Billiat, bought from Ajax Cape Town, epitomised the brilliance displayed by the Brazilians. His touches were magnetic, while, when Celtic tried to mark him, his trickery left them with egg on their face.
Former Free State Stars’ man Dove Wome got the goal-scoring parade on the road in the fifth minute, making the most of a poor clearance by Patrick Tignyemb and right-footing the ball past the Celtic goalkeeper. It was 2-0 before the Celtic players had finished arguing about who was to blame for the previous goal. This time Wome’s free kick was badly dealt with and deflected off Limbikani Mzava’s head and into the net.
The third goal was something to behold: Billiat zigzagged around the Celtic box, passing and receiving at will. He unlocked the Celtic backline with a pass squeezed to the corner for Bryce Moon to chase and did well to loop in a cross, which Billiat volleyed home spectacularly.
More Billiat brilliance ushered in the second half as the skilful Zimbabwean curled a superb Cuthbert Malajila lay-off around Tignyemb for his second of the match and Sundowns’ fourth.
Meanwhile, Platinum Stars got their 2013 knockout effort off to a dream start with a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United at Moruleng Stadium in North West yesterday.
Afer squandering many chances, resulting in there being no score at the interval, Henrico Botes broke the deadlock in the 49th minute. Minutes later, there was drama as Ruben Cloete was injured following a collision with Stars’ skipper Vuyo Mere.
Cloete was attended to on the pitch for about five minutes and later taken to hospital.
While the ambulance was taking Cloete, Robert Ng’ambi finally added his name on the scoresheet after connecting with a defencesplitting pass from Sibusiso Msomi in the 59th minute.