Rayners equals PSL record as Stellies hammer Polokwane

Stellenbosch FC hammered a hapless Polokwane City side 5-0 in a DStv Premiership encounter played at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday night.

The win saw Stellies remain second in the league standings, but they are now six points clear of third-placed Orlando Pirates and 10 points behind leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns who have three games in hand. Coach Steve Barker's side will now host Golden Arrows on 1 May.

Polokwane, on the other hand, remain 12th in the standings as they extended their winless run to five matches. Coach Phuthi Mohafe's side will now travel to the Mother City to take on a revitalised Cape Town Spurs side on 30 April.

Stellies dominated the match from the first whistle with the Rise and Shine defence under siege and the visitors conceded in the 17th minute. Iqraam Rayners made it 1-0 to Stellenbosch with a stunning long-range effort in the 17th minute.

Polokwane had to find a way to level matters and they were able to test Sage Stephens on the half-hour mark. The former Cape Town City goalkeeper denied Tholo Matuludi and the score was 1-0 to Stellenbosch during the halftime break.

Rise and Shine got off to a bright start in the second-half, but Stephens produced fine saves to deny Mokibelo Ramabu and Oswin Appollis in the 54th minute. The hosts then upped the tempo after the half-hour mark and Rayners made it 2-0 with a close-range finish in the 65th minute.

The goal rattled the Polokwane defence as Rayners grabbed his hat-trick in the 74th minute to make it 3-0 to Stellenbosch. The Bafana Bafana striker then netted his fourth in the 79th minute with a fine finish before sealing Stellenbosch's 5-0 win by scoring in the 82nd minute.

Therefore, Rayners became the second player to score five goals in a PSL Premiership match after Zambian legend James Chamanga who netted five times for Moroka Swallows in a 6-2 win against Platinum Stars on 9 December 2007.

Stellenbosch (1) 5 (Rayners 17', 65', 75', 79', 82')

Polokwane (0) 0

Stellenbosch: Stephens, Toure, Basadien, Van Rooyen (Mcaba 83'), Moloisane, Palace (Jurgens 66'), Adams (Colley 83'), De Jong (Mgaga 66'), Oura, Titus, Rayners

Polokwane: Myataza, Nkwe, Matuludi, Nkaki (Raphadu 75'), Nikani, Maphangule, Kambala, Mashikinya (Alexander 46'), Ramabu, Appollis, Tshabalala (Chauke 46').