Mamelodi Sundowns claimed a 1-0 victory over Polokwane City after extra-time in an MTN8 quarterfinal encounter played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The hard-fought victory saw Masandawana sneak into the semifinals of the Top 8 competition - joining defending champions Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town City in the last four.
Rise and Shine, on the other hand, bowed out of the tournament after failing to take advantage of their superiority over Masandawana and they will start their Betway Premiership campaign next month.
✅- Pirates
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 11, 2024
✅- Stellenbosch
✅- Cape Town City
✅- Sundowns
The final four for the #MTN8 is confirmed 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZgI7L98tGW
Masandawana started the match brightly and Peter Shalulile was just unlucky not to find the back of the net as the Namibian hitman's attempts hit the woodwork twice in the 16th minute and 17th minute.
Polokwane grew gradually into the game and goalkeeper Denis Onyango made a double save in the 20th minute before his Rise and Shine counterpart Manuel Sapunga denied Teboho Mokoena in the 24th minute.
The score was 0-0 at halftime.
Sundowns have created chances in the first half 🔢👇
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 11, 2024
📺 Stream #MTN8 live: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/WdL37dAhV0
ONYANGO GETS HIS MARCHING ORDERS
Sundowns continued to control the match after the restart, but they were left vulnerable at the back which saw the hosts being reduced to 10 players in the 83rd minute when Onyango was sent off for denying Polokwane a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Not going to plan for Manqoba 👀👇
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 11, 2024
Denis Onyango is sent off 🟥
📺 Stream #MTN8 live: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/VhWa2hu3hf
With Masandawana having done all four substitutions already, Mosa Lebusa replaced Onyango between the sticks.
The last real chance in regulation time fell for Themba Zwane who ballooned his effort over the crossbar and extra time followed after a 0-0 draw.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 101st minute when Thabang Matuludi netted an unfortunate own-goal to hand the hosts the lead.
Horror of horrors for Thabang Matuludi 😫
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 11, 2024
📺 Stream #MTN8 live: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/HjZU51efPL
Numerically-disadvantaged Sundowns then held on to the lead and ultimately emerged as 1-0 winners on the day.
They were down to 10 men but Bafana ba Style are up and running in the #MTN8 👆🟡🔵#WafaWafa pic.twitter.com/XLxus7oEba
— MTN8 Wafa Wafa! (@MTN8) August 11, 2024
Sundowns 1 (Matuludi 101')
Polokwane 0
Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Onyango, Lebusa, Coetzee, Mashego (February 90'), Modiba (Maema 72'), Mudau (Morena 71'), Mokoena, Allende, Matthews (Zwane 60'), Ribeiro (Kekana 103'), Shalulile (Maseko 82').
Polokwane City XI: Sapunga, Matuludi, Nkwe, Nkani, Nkaki, Kambala (Maswanganyi 101'), Ramabu (Appollis 58'), Maphangule, Chauke, Alexander (Marema 80'), Dlamini (Ntamane 58' Tshabalala 105').