Sundowns march to Carling Knockout quarters in style

Teboho Mokoena was given some few second-half minutes at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium as Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Golden Arrows 5-0 to get the quarter-final ticket in the Carling Knockout.

The Bafana international midfielder had been frozen by his club’s technical team after alleged misunderstandings, which were eventually solved.

Since the MTN8 elimination by Stellenbosch, Masandawana have been in ascendancy across all competitions. Prior to the Saturday game, the Manqoba Mngqithi-led team had managed to win five games in all tournaments.

Abafana Bes’thende started the Premier Soccer League with two consecutive wins, but have lost as many in their latest outings.

It explains why Downs started the game at the  Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.

Morena and Rayners deliver early strikes

The PSL champions started the game with a flurry of attacks amid cheers from their fans inside the stadium.

In the 14th minute, they were given a reason to be even louder. Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro received the ball on the right wing and passed it to the advancing Thapelo Morena. The latter’s strike from just the edge of the 18-yard area proved too much for goalkeeper Edward Maova.

Former Stellenbosch striker Iqraam Rayners then doubled the advantage in the 30th minute when he converted Tashreeq Matthews’ assist. 

Downs could have gotten more goals but good goalkeeping and poor finishing helped keep the scoreline 2-0 at the break.

Downs get their quarter-final ticket

Arrows came back stronger after the break hoping to get themselves back into the game, but it was not going to be an easy task against a quality Masandawana team.

In the 59th minute, Ronwen Williams had to be alert to deny Knox Mutizwa. Masandawana had conceded a free-kick 35-yards out from their goal and the Zimbabwean took it, but the Bafana Bafana captain rose for the occasion.

In the 73rd minute, Mothobi Mvala put his team in the comfort zone when he scored from a Thembinkosi Lorch set-piece to make it 3-0 in favour of Downs.

Five minutes later, Peter Shalulile, who had come on for Rayners, put his name on the scoresheet with a sublime finish after Morena had done all the donkey work from the right wing.

The icing on the cake was done by Kutlwano Letlhaku in the 81st minute to give Sundowns a huge 5-0 win and a place in the quarter-final.