Gaston Sirino netted a hat-trick for Mamelodi Sundowns, who cruised to the Nedbank Cup last 16 with a 6-1 thrashing of NB La Masia.
Nedbank Cup Last 32
Result: La Masia 1-6 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 20 February 2024
Venue: Dobsonville Stadium
Sundowns gave new signing Matias Esquivel his debut in the line-up as he joined his South American contingent, Gaston Sirino, Junior Mendieta and Marcelo Allende, Thembinkosi Lorch and Peter Shalulile dropped to the bench while Lucas Ribeiro Costa was ruled out with injury.
The Brazilians were on the front foot from the first whistle and after putting La Masia under pressure, Sirino eventually broke the deadlock on 18 minutes with a low strike into the bottom corner after a pass from Lebohang Maboe.
Masandawana did not give Daine Klate's charges to settle as Esquivel doubled their lead just four minutes later with an unstoppable free-kick.
The visitors continued to mesmerize the second-tier outfit as just before the half-hour mark Terrence Mashego made it 3-0 with a composed finish after he was setup by Esquivel.
La Masia had a silver-lining eight minutes before the break after Fuad Johnson pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after a foul by Allende in the box.
However, Sirino restored a three-goal lead for Sundowns just before the interval and completed his brace after an assist from Maboe, who did all the hard.
The visitors had a flying start in the second stanza as four minutes in, Maboe added the fifth goal after he finished off a good team move.
Masandawana kept on attacking and Sirino rounded of the scoring after he finished off a cross from Lorch to complete his hat-trick.
Sundowns gave Tashreeq Matthews his debut off the bench with 13 minutes to go and he showed some good touches, as the Tshwane giants progressed to the round of 16.
Here's how they lined up:
La Masia: Prince, Ngobeza, Saralina, Bull, Manning, Wee, Williams, Baatjies, Rademeyer, May, Johnson
Subs: Du Plessis, Manzini, Roelf, Ntshuntshe, Rooi, Johnson, Kakora, Green, John.
Mamelodi Sundowns: D. Onyango, Mdunyelwa, Lebusa, Lunga, Mashego, Mbule, Maboe, Allende, Mendieta, Esquivel, Sirino.
Subs: Pieterse, B. Onyango, Zungu, Aubaas, Mkhulise, Maema, Matthews, Lorch, Shalulile.
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