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Sundowns crush Arrows in Carling Knockout

football19 October 2024 18:05| © Backpage TXT
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Mamelodi Sundowns have put their name into the hat for the Carling Knockout quarterfinal draw after crushing Golden Arrows 5-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Brazilians have joined Stellenbosch FC, Magesi FC and Marumo Gallants in the next round of the cup competition after goals from Thapelo Morena, Iqraam Rayners, Mothobi Mvala, Peter Shalulile and Kutlwano Letlhaku saw them brush aside Abafana Bes’thende with disdain.

Sundowns dominated from the first whistle and made their pressure count with an opening goal in the 14th minute. Lucas Ribeiro did good work in attack to hold up the ball and play a perfectly-weighted pass for Thapelo Morena, who found the top corner of the net with a beautiful strike from the edge of the penalty area.

On the half-hour mark the hosts doubled their advantage, as Tashreeq Matthews sprung the offside trap thanks to a superb through ball from Ribeiro and unselfishly squared for Iqraam Rayners, who rolled home possibly the easiest finish of his career for 2-0.

The half closed with the Brazilians two goals to the good, though it would have been more were it not for a couple of sharp saves from Arrows goalkeeper Edward Maova, who was the only outstanding visiting player in the opening 45 minutes.

Abafana Bes’thende, who were forced into an injury substitution late in the first half which saw Lungelo Nguse replace Ryan Moon up front, also made three changes at the start of the second stanza, as Nqobeko Dlamini, Knox Mutizwa and Velemseni Ndwandwe were introduced off the bench.

The visitors were much improved as a result, with Mutizwa forcing two notable saves from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams just after the hour mark, but Sundowns added a third goal in the 74th minute to kill off the game as a contest.

Thembinkosi Lorch, who had just been introduced off the bench, picked out the head of Mothobi Mvala from a corner kick and the burly defender’s effort found the back of the net to make it 3-0.

The Brazilians scored a fourth just four minutes later via another substitute, Peter Shalulile, who coolly tucked home from Morena’s assist for his first goal of the season, and a fifth arrived soon after as Kutlwano Letlhaku, in his first involvement after replacing Matthews, was able to steer home a low shot from the right side of the penalty area after running into acres of space behind Arrows’ defence.

Sundowns will be in league action on Wednesday, 23 October, when they host Royal AM, while Arrows’ next match is away to Chippa United in the league next Saturday, 26 October.

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 5 (Morena 14’, Rayners 30’, Mvala 74’, Shalulile 78’, Letlhaku 82’)

Golden Arrows 0

Sundowns: Williams, Mvala, Coetzee, Lebusa, Morena, Maboe (Mkhulise 81’), Allende (Mokoena 72’), Tiwani, Matthews (Letlhaku 81’), Ribeiro (Lorch 72’), Rayners (Shalulile 65’)

Arrows: Maova, Phillips, Mantshiyane, Shitolo, Cele, Zuke, Dube (Ndwandwe 46’), Zwane (Mutizwa 46’), Masuku (Dlamini 46’), Sibiya, Moon (Nguse 37’)

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