Sundowns edge seven-goal thriller against AmaZulu to join Pirates at the top

Published on by

Sundowns edge seven-goal thriller against AmaZulu to join Pirates at the top
Mamelodi Sundowns players Fawaaz Basadien and Teboho Mokoena celebrate a goal against AmaZulu FC. Image: SuperSport

Mamelodi Sundowns surged to second place in the Betway Premiership standings after a commanding 5-2 victory over AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Seeking to rebound from a surprising MTN8 first-leg loss to Golden Arrows, Masandawana were determined to assert their dominance. AmaZulu, on the other hand, arrived in Pretoria aiming to protect their unbeaten start to the season.

Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrate their win over AmaZulu.
Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrate their win over AmaZulu.

The hosts signaled their intent early. Cassius Mailula found space in the box but was denied by a sharp save from AmaZulu goalkeeper Faveur Kouassi.

Sundowns make early statement

Sundowns’ pressure paid off in the 25th minute. A deflected shot fell perfectly for Brayan Leon, who unleashed a powerful volley into the top corner to open the scoring.

Just five minutes later, the lead was doubled. The returning Teboho Mokoena marked his comeback from an early-season injury with a spectacular free-kick, curling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area.

However, Usuthu fought back immediately after the break. A minute into the second half, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya beat his marker to a Riaan Hanamub cross, slotting home his fourth goal of the season to cut the deficit.

Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Teboho Mokoena. Photo: Mamelodi Sundowns

Second half thriller favours Brazilians

Sundowns quickly restored their two-goal advantage. In the 51st minute, Kouassi spilled a save, and Tashreeq Matthews was on hand to pounce on the loose ball for a simple close-range finish.

The home side extended their lead further in the 66th minute. After a shot from Matthews struck the post, Leon reacted quickest to the rebound, stabbing the ball home to complete his brace.

Brayan Leon of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Brayan Leon of Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: Mamelodi Sundowns

AmaZulu refused to surrender and pulled another goal back just four minutes later. Ngwenya made a clever run from the right, latched onto a loose ball, and fired in from a tight angle to secure his own brace.

But Sundowns had the final say. In the third minute of stoppage time, Bennet Mokoena sealed the comprehensive victory with a well-taken finish, ensuring all three points and a move up to second on the league table.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a sports journalist covering South Africa, with 16 years in sports media and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. Focused on football analysis and responsible gambling, his work has appeared on GOAL and Pulse Sports Kenya, and he is a regular football analyst on TV and radio.

You May Also Like