Mamelodi Sundowns maintained their winning start to the DStv Premiership season with a 4-0 thrashing of Golden Arrows on Tuesday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 Golden Arrows
Date: 15 August 2023
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Sundowns made four changes from their narrow win over Swallows, as Rivaldo Coetzee returned from suspension, Lesiba Nku got his first start while Peter Shalulile and Abdelmounaim Boutouil were recalled. Arrows goalkeeper Ismael Watenga, on loan from the Brazilians, started against his parent club.
Sundowns were on the front foot early on, persisting and Shalulile eventually gave them the lead on 17 minutes with an acrobatic finish from close-range after a flick-on from Mothobi Mvala in the box.
Rulani Mokwena's charges remained on the hunt and were rewarded four minutes later, as Nku doubled the lead with a neat back-heel from Neo Maema's cross, after some inter-passing by the home side.
Teboho Mokoena came close to adding a third goal just after the half-hour mark with a strike on the edge of the box that crashed the outside of the post.
Abafana Bes'thende were not offering much going forward and were punished for sitting too deep, as Grant Kekana, who had a goal disallowed for offside, grabbed the third goal just before the interval with a free header at the near post from Marcelo Allende's corner.
Mokwena took the opportunity to rest Themba Zwane and Mokoena at halftime, as they were replaced by Bathusi Aubaas and Terrence Mashego.
Sundowns were immediately rewarded after the break as Nku made it 4-0 within a minute from the restart with a strike in the box from a rebound to complete his brace.
The Tshwane giants, still looking to score further goals, had a concerning injury to Shalulile 20 minutes before time, after he appeared to have pulled his hamstring and was replaced by youngster Siyanda Nyanga.
Sundowns dropped their tempo in the closing stages but the likes of Junior Mendieta and Nyanga offered them new energy upfront, as they ran out a 4-0 winner and opened a three-point lead at the top of the table.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: 30. Williams, 20. Kekana, 13. Boutouil, 34. Mvala, 40. Coetzee, 4. Mokoena, 35. Maema, 11. Allende, 18. Zwane, 7. Nku, 38. Shalulile
Subs: 1. Pieterse, 6 B.Onyango, 14. Mashego, 17. Modiba, 8. Zungu, 19. Aubaas, 15. Mendieta, 46. Nyanga, 23. Ribeiro Costa
Golden Arrows: 1. Watenga, 42. Theron, 39. Cross, 37. Ndlovu, 5. Shitolo, 23. Dube, 14. van Rooi, 12. Ndwandwe, 2. Gumbi, 9. Moon, 11. Sibiya
Subs: 36. Mlungwana, 40. Nguse, 38. Mthanti, 24. Dlamini, 27. Nxadi, 30. Cele, 31. Ncube, 17. Mhlongo, 41. Zwane
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