Mamelodi Sundowns entered the halftime break leading Royal AM 1-0 at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Royal AM 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 29 October 2022
Venue: Chatsworth Stadium
Sundowns made only change from their thumping win over Maritzburg United, as Mothobi Mvala took the place of the injured Rushine De Reuck, while Rivaldo Coetzee was named on the bench.
Royal AM, meanwhile, recalled Lantshene Phalane and Shaune Mogaila as the two changes from their win over Golden Arrows.
Lesvin Stoffels had a golden chance on eight minutes to put the hosts ahead after racing past the last line of defence but he was pulled back by Lebusa, who was fortunate to only get a yellow card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Thwihli Thwahla continued to stifle the Brazilians by pressing them high and Stoffels came close to breaking the deadlock shortly before the half-hour mark with a strike unmarked at the back post that was cleared off the line.
Rulani Mokwena's charges struggled to get out of their own half but they clicked with their first clear chance on the stroke of half-time after Neo Maema guided a shot towards the far post after he was setup by Cassius Mailula, who opened the defence with a dribble in the box.
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Masandawana had another slow start in the second stanza, as Royal AM were fired up to get back into the game and Mokwena made an attacking change on the hour-mark, as Themba Zwane replaced Haashim Domingo.
Sundowns looked better on the ball after that, as Zwane linked up with the likes of Mailula and Sphelele Mkhulise but they were not turning around the Royal AM defence.
With the home side threatening playing with urgency going forward, the Brazilians made a tactical switch in the last 18 minutes to crowd their midfield, as Bradley Ralani replaced Mvala.
The changes gave Sundowns a different dimension going forward as Mailula sealed the deal four minutes before time with a tap-in from a rebound after goalkeeper Zakhele Ngcobo parried Teboho Mokoena's shot at the near post on his path.
The Brazilians remained on the front foot as Ralani rubbed salt into Royal AM's wounds with another close-range tap-in, although he needed to brave after a cross by Gaston Sirino, who rounded Ngcobo, after he had just come on.
Here's how they lined up:
Royal AM: 32. Ngcobo, 22. Rikhotiso, Kobedi, Nascimento, 17. Mogaila, 24. Lingwati, 8. Phalane, 7. Pelembe, 14. Matlaba, 35. Stoffels, 30. Gamildien.
Subs: 31. Mpoto, 13. Manganyi, 9. Macuphu, 34. Thikazi, 2. Msomi, 42. Ncobeni, 4. Mzila, 33. Sera, 5. Dlamini
Mamelodi Sundowns: 32. Williams, 27. Morena, 5. Lebusa, 34. Mvala, 20. Kekana, 21. Mkhulise, 4. Mokoena, 35. Maema, 23. Domingo, 33. Mailula, 11. Allende
Subs: 14. D.Onyango, 22. Kapinga, 18. Zwane, 5. Jali, 39. Maboe, 40. Coetzee, 10. Sirino, 25. Mudau, 38. Ralani
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